Documenting the organization of the retinal capillaries is of importance to understand the visual consequences of vascular diseases which may differentially affect the microvascular layers. Here we detailed the spatial organization of the macular capillaries in ten healthy human subjects using a prototypic adaptive optics-enhanced optical coherence tomography angiography (AO-OCTA) system. Within the central 6° × 6°, the radial peripapillary capillaries and the superficial, intermediate and deep vascular plexuses (SVP, IVP and DVP, respectively) were consistently resolved. In 8 out of the 10 eyes, the capillary segments composing the perifoveal arcade (PFA) were perfused only by the SVP, while drainage of the PFA showed more variability, comprising a case in which the PFA was drained by the DVP. Around the center, a distinct central avascular zone could be documented for each layer in 7 of the 10 cases; in three eyes, the IVP and SVP merged tangentially around the center. In all eyes, the foveal avascular zone was larger in the DVP than in the SVP and IVP. In one eye with incomplete separation of the inner foveal layers, there was continuity of both the SVP and the IVP; a central avascular zone was only present in the DVP. The diversity of perfusion and drainage patterns supported a connectivity scheme combining parallel and serial organizations, the latter being the most commonly observed in perifoveal vessels. Our results thus help to further characterize the diversity of organization patterns of the macular capillaries and to robustly analyze the IVP, which will help to characterize early stages of microvascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preoperative choriocapillaris perfusion (CCP) as a biomarker in patients with idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM).
METHODS: 28 patients (28 eyes) with unilateral iERM who received pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling were included for retrospective observational study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and angiography (OCTA) was performed before and after PPV. Area, perimeter, and circularity of superficial foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were analyzed preoperatively in both eyes using OCTA. Preoperative CCP was also analyzed with binarized en-face OCTA images. Measurements of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT) by OCT were conducted at the baseline and 6 months following the surgery. The correlations of preoperative OCT parameters with postoperative BCVA and CFT reduction were analyzed.
RESULTS: CCP was significantly lower (p < 0.001) and FAZ had shrunk (p < 0.001) in eyes with iERM compared to unaffected fellow eyes before surgery. BCVA and CFT became significantly improved after surgery (p = 0.001, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that preoperative CCP was significantly related with BCVA improvement (β = 0.185, p = 0.005), postoperative BCVA (β = 0.108, p = 0.023) and ratio of post- to preoperative CFT (β = 0.106, p = 0.044).
CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative CCP is a biomarker for poor functional and anatomical prognosis after surgery in iERM.

Aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between genetic and phenotypic data in a series of patients affected by grade I and II of foveal hypoplasia with stable fixation and good visual acuity using multimodal imaging techniques. All patients underwent complete clinical and instrumental assessment including structural Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), OCT Angiography and Adaptive Optics (AO) imaging. Central macular thickness (CMT), inner nuclear layer (INL), vessel density in superficial capillary plexus were the main variables evaluated with OCT technology. Cone density, cone spacing, cone regularity, cone dispersion and angular density were the parameters evaluated with AO. Genetic evaluation and trio exome sequencing were performed in all affected individuals. Eight patients (3 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 12.62 years (range 8-18) were enrolled. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.18 ± 0.13 logMAR, mean CMT was 291.9 ± 16.6 µm and INL was 26.2 ± 4.6 µm. The absence of a foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was documented by examination of OCT-A in seven patients in the superficial capillary plexus. However, there was a partial FAZ in the deep plexus in patients P5 and P8. Of note, all the patients presented with major retinal vessels clearly crossing the foveal center. All individuals exhibited a grade I or II of foveal hypoplasia. In 5 patients molecular analyses showed an extremely mild form of albinism caused by compound heterozygosity of a TYR pathogenic variant and the hypomorphic p.[Ser192Tyr;Arg402Gln] haplotype. One patient had Waardenburg syndrome type 2A caused by a de novo variant in MITF. Two patients had inconclusive molecular analyses. All the patients displayed abnormalities on OCT-A. Photoreceptor count did not differ from normal subjects according to the current literature, but qualitative analysis of AO imaging showed distinctive features likely related to an abnormal pigment distribution in this subset of individuals. In patients with foveal hypoplasia, genetic and multimodal imaging data, including AO findings, can help understand the physiopathology of the foveal hypoplasia phenotype. This study confirms that cone density and visual function can both be preserved despite the absence of a pit.

OBJECTIVE: To understand factors affecting visual prognosis and the number of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections needed to stabilize wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
METHODS: In this retrospective cohort, 119 treatment-naïve wet AMD patients were followed for two years. In patients with bilateral disease, the eye with worse best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) or that received more intravitreal injections was recruited as the study eye. In all visits, BCVA was recorded, ophthalmological examination was performed including macular optical coherence tomography imaging. Twenty health status/lifestyle questions were asked to the patients via phone as potential risk factors. All patients received 3 loading doses of intravitreal bevacizumab injections and received repeat injections of aflibercept or ranibizumab when the eye had a new, active neovascular lesion.
RESULTS: Patients who took regular micronutrition had similar visual outcome and injection numbers compared to the ones who did not. Patients with bilateral disease needed less intravitreal injections compared to unilateral AMD patients (p = 0.016) and women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) required less injections compared to the women who were not (p = 0.024). Female patients had a mean gain of 2.7 letters while male patients lost 3.8 letters (p = 0.038). Wet AMD started at an earlier age in smokers (p = 0.002). Patients with a better education level presented earlier with better BCVA (p = 0.037).
CONCLUSIONS: HRT and anti-VEGF injections to the fellow eye improved the prognosis of wet AMD, while male patients had slightly worse prognosis. Estrogen\'s protective effects and potential contribution in wet AMD needs further attention. Retrospectively registered: 2020/0622.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of brimonidine on vascular density and flow index of optic nerve head (ONH) and macula in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
METHODS: Twenty-three brimonidine-naïve POAG patients were started on brimonidine. They underwent OCTA ONH and macula before commencing brimonidine and one month thereafter. Systemic arterial blood pressure (SABP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured at each visit to calculate mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP). The OCT angiograms were analyzed using ImageJ software to calculate ONH and macular flow indices.
RESULTS: Thirty-seven eyes (23 patients) with a mean age of 56.7 ± 12.49 years were included of whom 60.8% were males. Brimonidine was associated with an increase in the superficial flow index (SFI) (P-value = 0.02) and optic nerve head flow index (ONHFI) (P-value = 0.01). Also, superficial vascular density (SVD) for whole image, superior-hemi and fovea increased (P-value = 0.03, 0.02, 0.03 respectively). ONH inferior-hemi vascular density decreased (P-value = 0.01) despite an increase in inferior quadrant retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) (P-value = 0.03). There was no statistically significant correlation between flow indices and MOPP at baseline and follow-up. A moderate negative correlation was found between SVD and DVD at the fovea and MOPP at baseline and follow-up (P-value = 0.03, 0.05) (P-value = 0.02, 0.01) respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Brimonidine was associated with an increase in SFI, ONHFI and SVD indicating improved GCC and RNFL perfusion in POAG. Despite the increase in inferior quadrant RNFLT, the concomitant decrease in inferior-hemi ONHVD precluded a conclusion of hemodynamically-mediated improvement of RNFLT.

This review is devoted to the English- and Russian-language terminology of quantitative metrics that are used in the evaluation of images obtained by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). The paper presents an analysis of the use of terms characterizing intraretinal blood flow (vascular density, perfusion density, skeletonized density, etc.), area and shape of the foveal avascular zone, and choriocapillaris blood flow. The factors causing the heterogeneity of OCT-A terminology are described, including the lack of a unified international nomenclature for OCT-A, features of their Russian translation, inconsistency of the parameters in optical coherence tomography systems of different manufacturers. The article also considers ways to standardize the terminology.
Обзор посвящен англо- и русскоязычной терминологии количественных показателей, которые применяются при оценке изображений, полученных методом оптической когерентной томографии-ангиографии (ОКТ-А). Проанализирована частота использования терминов, характеризующих интраретинальный кровоток (сосудистая плотность, плотность перфузии, скелетонизированная плотность и др.), площадь и форму фовеальной аваскулярной зоны, хориокапиллярный кровоток. В работе описаны факторы, обусловливающие многообразие связанной с ОКТ-А терминологии: отсутствие единой международной количественной номенклатуры ОКТ-А, особенности русскоязычного перевода, несогласованность показателей оптических когерентных томографов разных производителей. Рассмотрены пути к стандартизации терминологии.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), a type of acute retinal arterial ischemia, analogous to an ocular stroke, is a medical emergency that warrants immediate diagnosis and treatment. CRAO usually presents with sudden, painless, monocular vision loss. Ipsilateral carotid artery disease is an important associated finding in these patients. The primary limitation to effective treatment of CRAO is that patients are rarely seen in the acute stage. Moreover, there are no guidelines for effective treatment. We report a patient with right CRAO whose treatment with intravenous thrombolysis with tenecteplase and anterior chamber paracentesis with ocular massage resulted in a good clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To review long-term outcomes of circumscribed choroidal hemangioma (CCH).
METHODS: Hospital charts of all CCH cases diagnosed from 2008 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS: All 172 patients were managed with either observation, transpupillary thermotherapy, argon laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, plaque brachytherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery. The most common 3 modes of management were clinical observation (30.2%), transpupillary thermotherapy (52.9%) and argon laser photocoagulation (8.7%). Median follow-up time was 10 months (range: 3, 160). Anatomical outcomes were stable in 87.1% of observation group and improved in 60.5% of thermotherapy group. Quantified optical coherence tomography angiography findings showed statistical differences in vascular and perfusion densities in fellow eyes of hemangioma patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Circumscribed choroidal hemangioma can be treated in various ways. Transpupillary thermotherapy is an anatomically effective treatment in selected cases. The diagnosis of CCH may have vascular implications in fellow eyes of the patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This retrospective case series study included 15 patients (28 eyes) diagnosed with AMN at the Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University Third Hospital, from November 2022 to January 2023. The AMN group comprised 4 males and 11 females, with a mean age of (31.36±8.08) years. A control group of 15 individuals [5 males, 10 females; mean age (33.20±5.10) years] who had COVID-19 but did not develop AMN was also included. Data collected for all patients included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, color fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results. Serum cytokine levels, including interleukins (ILs), interferons (IFNs), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were measured for both groups. Results: Among the 28 eyes, severe vision loss (BCVA≤0.3) was observed in 3 eyes (10.7%), moderate vision loss (BCVA>0.3 and≤0.5) in 2 eyes (13.3%), and mild vision loss (BCVA>0.5 and≤1.0) in 23 eyes (82.1%). OCT findings in all 28 eyes revealed hyperreflectivity of the outer nuclear layer and disruption of outer retinal structure. Additionally, 3 eyes (10.7%) exhibited cotton wool spots in the posterior pole, 2 eyes (7.1%) showed mild cystoid macular edema with intraretinal hyperreflective dots, and 1 eye (3.6%) presented with paracentral acute middle maculopathy. FFA indicated retinal vasculitis in 2 cases (4 eyes, 14.3%). Serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-α, and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the AMN group compared to the control group: IL-4 [4.49 (3.66, 6.08) vs. 1.40 (0.62, 1.68) pg/ml], IL-5 [7.34 (5.04, 14.06) vs. 0.17 (0.11, 1.86) pg/ml], IFN-α [8.42 (6.31, 14.89) vs. 0.50 (0.30, 0.83) pg/ml], and IFN-γ [17.93 (12.75, 32.44) vs. 7.43 (0.00, 14.74) pg/ml], with all differences being statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion: AMN following COVID-19 can present with wedge-shaped dark red lesions in the macular area, often accompanied by cotton wool spots and retinal vasculitis. Additionally, there is a significant elevation in various inflammatory cytokines in the serum.
目的： 探讨新型冠状病毒感染后的急性神经视网膜病变（AMN）的临床特征。 方法： 回顾性病例系列研究。收集2022年11月至2023年1月在北京大学第三医院眼科诊断为AMN的15例（28只眼）新型冠状病毒感染者资料作为AMN组，其中男性4例，女性患者11例，年龄为（31.36±8.08）岁。同期选择新型冠状病毒感染后未发生AMN者15名作为对照组，其中男性5例，女性10例，年龄为（33.20±5.10）岁。收集所有患者的最佳矫正视力（BCVA）、裂隙灯检查、散瞳后眼底检查、彩色眼底照相、荧光素眼底血管造影术（FFA）、相干光层析成像术（OCT）检查结果。对两组受试者进行血清细胞因子检测，包括白细胞介素（IL）类、干扰素（IFN）类以及肿瘤坏死因子α的水平。 结果： 28只眼中，严重视力下降（BCVA≤0.3）者3只眼（10.7%），中度视力下降（BCVA>0.3且≤0.5）者2只眼（13.3%），轻度视力下降（BCVA>0.5且≤1.0）者23只眼（82.1%）。所有28只眼在OCT上均表现为外核层高反射及外层视网膜结构的不连续，其中有3只眼同时伴有后极部视网膜1处或多处棉絮斑（10.7%），2只眼伴有轻度黄斑囊样水肿和视网膜内高反射点（7.1%），1只眼同时伴有旁中心性急性黄斑病变（3.6%）。有2例（4只眼，14.3%）FFA检查结果提示伴有视网膜血管炎。AMN组和对照组血清IL-4分别为4.49（3.66，6.08）和1.40（0.62，1.68）pg/ml、IL-5分别为7.34（5.04，14.06）和0.17（0.11，1.86）pg/ml、IFN-α分别为8.42（6.31，14.89）和0.50（0.30，0.83）pg/ml、IFN-γ分别为17.93（12.75，32.44）和7.43（0.00，14.74）pg/ml，两组差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05）。 结论： 新型冠状病毒感染后AMN除表现为黄斑区楔形暗红色病灶外，还可合并棉絮斑以及视网膜血管炎，同时伴有血清多种炎症因子的升高。.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) combined with ranibizumab in treating diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study. Patients diagnosed with DME in the Ophthalmology Department of Beijing Hospital were enrolled from January 2020 to December 2022. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1∶1 using a table of random numbers into the ranibizumab monotherapy group and the SMPL combined with ranibizumab therapy group. We compared the changes of best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness measured by optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography parameters, including the vessel density of the superficial and deep capillary plexus (DCP), foveal avascular zone size and peripapillary vessel density, at baseline, 6 and 12 months after the treatment. After 12 months of follow-up, fundus fluorescein angiography results, adverse events, and the number of injections or laser therapies were recorded. The Fisher\'s exact test and group t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Seventy-two patients (72 eyes) were enrolled, with a mean age of (61.1±8.2) years. Patients in the combination therapy group included 19 males and 17 females, while patients in the ranibizumab monotherapy group were 17 males and 19 females. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05). A significant improvement in best-corrected visual acuity was shown in both groups at 6 and 12 months [(58.5±12.9) and (58.2±12.2) ETDRS letters in the combination therapy group, and (63.3±13.1) and (63.8±12.5) ETDRS letters in the ranibizumab monotherapy group]. A significant reduction in central macular thickness was shown in both groups at 6 and 12 months [(451.0±185.5) and (380.4±159.3)μm in the combination therapy group, and (387.5±135.5) and (372.8±146.1)μm in the ranibizumab monotherapy group]. However, there was no significant difference between groups at each timepoint (all P>0.05). At 12 months, the vessel density of the superficial capillary plexus showed no statistical difference compared to the baseline value in each group or between groups (42.6%±5.9% in the ranibizumab monotherapy group and 42.2%±5.5% in the combination therapy group, P>0.05). The vessel density of the DCP in the combination therapy group significantly increased to 47.5%±5.6% at 12 months, significantly different from that in the ranibizumab group (43.4%±5.1%; P<0.05). The foveal avascular zone size in the ranibizumab monotherapy group reduced to (0.32±0.13) mm2, significantly different from that in the combination therapy group [(0.34±0.16) mm2] at 12 months (P<0.05). Patients in the ranibizumab monotherapy group received (7.3±2.5) intravitreal injections, while patients in the combination therapy group received 3 injections. No unfavorable outcomes on fundus fluorescein angiography or systemic or topical severe adverse events were observed during the follow-up. Conclusions: The SMPL combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injections was effective and safe in treating DME patients. The combination treatment significantly reduced the number of injections and improved the vessel density of the DCP and macular ischemia, compared to the ranibizumab monotherapy.
目的： 探讨阈值下微脉冲激光（SMPL）联合雷珠单克隆抗体治疗糖尿病性黄斑水肿（DME）的有效性、安全性及特点。 方法： 前瞻性随机对照研究。连续收集2020年1月至2022年12月在北京医院眼科确诊为DME的患者，使用随机数字表按照1∶1比例随机分为SMPL联合雷珠单克隆抗体治疗组（联合组）和单纯雷珠单克隆抗体治疗组（单纯组）。记录并比较两组治疗前（基线）和治疗6和12个月随访时的最佳矫正视力（BCVA）、黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度（CMT）以及相干光层析血管成像术参数，包括浅层毛细血管丛血管密度（SCP-VD）、深层毛细血管丛血管密度（DCP-VD）、黄斑中心凹无血管区（FAZ）面积、视盘旁血管密度（P-VD）；治疗前和治疗12个月随访时的荧光素眼底血管造影术（FFA）检查结果，治疗12个月随访时玻璃体腔注射药物次数、SMPL治疗次数和不良反应。采用Fisher精确概率法和成组t检验进行统计学分析。 结果： 共纳入符合标准DME患者72例（72只眼），年龄为（61.1±8.2）岁；联合组36例（36只眼），男性19例（19只眼），女性17例（17只眼）；单纯组36例（36只眼），男性17例（17只眼），女性19例（19只眼），两组基线特征比较差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。治疗6和12个月随访时，两组BCVA均明显改善［联合组提升至（58.5±12.9）和（58.2±12.2）个早期治疗糖尿病视网膜病变研究（ETDRS）字母；单纯组提升至（63.3±13.1）和（63.8±12.5）个ETDRS字母］；CMT均显著下降［联合组降低至（451.0±185.5）和（380.4±159.3）μm；单纯组降低至（387.5±135.5）和（372.8±146.1）μm］，差异均有统计学意义（均P<0.05），但是组间比较的差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。治疗12个月随访时，单纯组（42.6%±5.9%）和联合组（42.2%±5.5%）SCP-VD与基线比较的差异和组间比较的差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）；联合组DCP-VD增加至47.5%±5.6%，与单纯组比较（43.4%±5.1%）的差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；单纯组FAZ面积缩小至（0.32±0.13）mm2，联合组FAZ面积缩小至（0.34±0.16）mm2，两组比较差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；眼内注射药物次数单纯组为（7.3±2.5）次，联合组为3次。两组随访期间FFA检查无明显变化，全身或局部无严重不良反应发生。 结论： SMPL联合雷珠单克隆抗体注射治疗DME患者有效且安全；与单纯雷珠单克隆抗体注射治疗比较，可减少眼内注射药物次数，并改善深层毛细血管丛的血流灌注，改善黄斑缺血。.