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Updated: Apr 4, 2026
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
RETINAL AND CHOROIDAL VASCULATURE IN BIRDSHOT CHORIORETINOPATHY ANALYZED USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE
Talisa E de Carlo1, Marco A Bonini Filho, Mehreen Adhi
1*New England Eye Center and Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; †Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and ‡CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia, Brazil.
Purpose:
To describe retinal and choroidal vascular changes in eyes with birdshot chorioretinopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography.
Methods:
Patients underwent imaging using the AngioVue prototype software of the RTVue XR spectral domain optical coherence tomography device (Optovue, Inc) between September and December 2014. Two trained patients evaluated the optical coherence tomography angiography images for changes in the retinal and choroidal vasculature in the posterior pole.
Results:
Four of eight eyes (50%) had birdshot lesions in the posterior pole as demonstrated on fundus photography. All of these eyes demonstrated the areas of decreased choroidal blood flow below the disrupted retinal pigment epithelium. Larger choroidal vessels bordered the birdshot lesions. All eyes analyzed showed retinal thinning, telangiectatic vessels, and an increased intercapillary space. Capillary dilatations and loops were each seen in 7 of 8 eyes (88%).
Conclusion:
Optical coherence tomography angiography provides precise microvascular detail of the retinal vasculature and choriocapillaris that allows for the noninvasive visualization of the birdshot lesions and changes in the inner retina. The optical coherence tomography angiography images delineated widespread retinal vascular findings not previously described in the literature. In the future, optical coherence tomography angiography could be a useful tool to evaluate the natural history of birdshot chorioretinopathy, its progression, and the effect of treatment in these patients.
