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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY FEATURES OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Thomas S Hwang1, Yali Jia, Simon S Gao
1Casey Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Purpose:
To describe the optical coherence tomography angiography features of diabetic retinopathy.
Methods:
Using a 70 kHz optical coherence tomography and the split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography algorithm, 6 mm × 6 mm 3-dimensional angiograms of the macula of 4 patients with diabetic retinopathy were obtained and compared with fluorescein angiography for features cataloged by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study.
Results:
Optical coherence tomography angiography detected enlargement and distortion of the foveal avascular zone, retinal capillary dropout, and pruning of arteriolar branches. Areas of capillary loss obscured by fluorescein leakage on fluorescein angiography were more clearly defined on optical coherence tomography angiography. Some areas of focal leakage on fluorescein angiography that were thought to be microaneurysms were found to be small tufts of neovascularization that extended above the inner limiting membrane.
Conclusion:
Optical coherence tomography angiography does not show leakage but can better delineate areas of capillary dropout and detect early retinal neovascularization. This new noninvasive angiography technology may be useful for routine surveillance of proliferative and ischemic changes in diabetic retinopathy.
