Comparison of anterior segment optical coherence tomography angiography systems for corneal vascularisation

Br J Ophthalmol. 2018 Jul;102(7):873-877. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-311072. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Abstract

Aim: To newly describe a spectral-domain (SD) optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for the cornea and directly compare two OCTA system scans of the same eyes with corneal vascularisation.

Methods: Cross-sectional, observational, comparative case series. We performed sequential OCTA scans (10 eyes of 10 subjects with corneal vascularisation,4 scans each eye) repeated using split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation algorithm angiography system (SSADA, AngioVue; Optovue Inc, USA) and SD OCTA (Angioscan; Nidek Co. Ltd, Japan) in the same region of interest. We analysed all scan images for repeatability, image quality and vessel density measurements and compared OCTA systems.

Results: We obtained substantial interobserver repeatability in terms of image quality score (κ=0.86) for all 80 OCTA scans (median age 49 years, 50% women). The correlation was moderately good (r=0.721) when comparing vessel density measurements between OCTA systems, but greater in the SSADA compared with SD OCTA system (mean vessel density 20.3±4.9% vs 15.1±4.2%, respectively; p<0.001).

Conclusion: In this pilot clinical study, we describe successful delineation of corneal vessels with substantial image quality using a new SD OCTA system. The vessel density measurements were greater using the SSADA compared with SD OCTA system in the same area of corneal vascularisation. Further studies are required to confirm the advantages, limitations and differences between these OCTA systems for the anterior segment.

Keywords: Diagnostic tests/investigation; cornea; imaging.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Anterior Eye Segment / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cornea / blood supply*
  • Corneal Neovascularization / diagnosis*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*
  • Young Adult