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Drusen and RPE atrophy automated quantification by optical coherence tomography in an elderly population
B Diniz1, D C Rodger2, V R Chavali3
11] Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA [2] Department of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Eye (London, England)
|November 8, 2014
Summary
This study found that retinal pigment epithelium atrophy and drusen increase with age in elderly individuals. Systolic blood pressure and smoking duration are associated with larger drusen areas, particularly in the perifoveal ring.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly.
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is crucial for visualizing retinal structures.
- Understanding demographic associations with AMD biomarkers is vital for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate OCT-derived measures of drusen and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy areas (RAs) with demographic factors in an elderly population.
- To investigate the influence of age, gender, smoking status, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) on drusen and RPE atrophy.
- To assess the utility of automated OCT analysis for population-based studies.
Main Methods:
- 434 eyes from subjects aged 50+ underwent Cirrus OCT scanning.
- Drusen area and volume were quantified in the central circle (CC) and perifoveal ring (PR) using RPE analysis software.
- Retinal atrophy (RA) measurements were taken for the 6x6mm retinal area; demographic data (gender, age, smoking, SBP) were collected.
Main Results:
- Retinal atrophy (RA) was larger in women and increased with age.
- Perifoveal ring (PR) drusen area increased with age, while central circle (CC) drusen stabilized after 70.
- PR drusen area/volume correlated with smoking duration; RA and drusen measurements associated with SBP.
Conclusions:
- Automated OCT algorithms effectively analyze drusen and geographic atrophy burden in elderly populations.
- Demographic factors like age, gender, smoking, and SBP are significant correlates of AMD biomarkers.
- These findings support OCT's role in population-based studies of age-related retinal changes.
