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Senile scleral plaques imaged with enhanced depth optical coherence tomography
Marco Beck1, Bettina Schlatter, Sebastian Wolf
1Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Acta Ophthalmologica
|October 3, 2014
Summary
Senile scleral plaques (SSP) are common, appearing near horizontal rectus muscle insertions. Enhanced depth imaging OCT helps characterize these plaques, advising caution during intravitreal injections to prevent scleral rupture.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Anatomical Imaging
- Ocular Pathology
Background:
- Senile scleral plaques (SSP) are greyish areas anterior to horizontal rectus muscle insertions.
- These plaques are frequently encountered during transscleral intravitreal injections.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize senile scleral plaques (SSP) using enhanced depth imaging spectral domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT).
- Assess SSP in patients undergoing intravitreal injections.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cross-sectional study of 380 patients.
- Anterior segment OCT used to assess anatomical features of 32 identified SSP patients.
Main Results:
- SSP prevalence was 8.2% in the patient cohort.
- Anterior segment OCT identified SSP at horizontal recti muscle insertion sites.
- Mean SSP dimensions: horizontal diameter 2.2 mm, vertical diameter 3.3 mm, surface area 5.3 mm², thickness 0.6 mm.
Conclusions:
- SSP are common near horizontal rectus muscle insertions, frequently encountered during intravitreal injections.
- Rarefied scleral stroma and calcifications in SSP increase risk of scleral rupture.
- Avoid performing multiple intravitreal injections in areas with SSP to prevent scleral rupture.
