Assessment of macular microblood flow and subfoveal choroidal thickness in patients with various stages of chronic ischemic retinopathy using optical coherence tomography-angiography

Purpose. Assessment of macular microvasculature and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in patients with various stages of chronic ischemic retinopathy (CIR) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Material and methods. The study included 54 patients (54 eyes) with manifestations of CIR in one eye. To assess the microcirculation of the macula, OCT-A was performed (RtVue xR Avanti, Optovue, Inc., USA). The parameters of microblood flow were studied: the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ, mm²), superficial choroid plexus (SCCP, %), superficial deep choroid plexus (SDCP, %), SFCT (µm). Results. Mild severity of CIR was characterized by a decrease in SCCP by 10.3 % and SDCP by 10.1 %, with a moderate degree by 19.7 % and 14.6 %, with a severe degree by 31.9 % and 31.5 %. The FAZ area increased: with a mild degree by 23.1 %, with a moderate degree by 38.1 %, with a severe degree by 58.2 %. SFCT in mild cases of CIR was reduced by 9.9 %, in moderate cases by 22 %, and in severe cases by 28.5 %. Conclusion. The OCT-A method is promising in the study of microblood flow and SFCT in patients with varying degrees of CIR.