OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA-ASSOCIATED CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA

To investigate the microstructure of cystoid macular edema (CME) in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and the associated vascular changes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography.

In this retrospective study, we included 42 eyes of 21 patients with RP and age-similar normally sighted controls who underwent both OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography. Using OCT, spatial distribution of CME and the retinal layer, which CME located, was examined. Optical coherence tomography angiography images of the superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus were obtained. Foveal and parafoveal flow densities in each layer and foveal avascular zone area were measured.

Of the 42 eyes with RP, 32 had CME. All CMEs were located in the inner nuclear layer and limited to the parafovea. The outer nuclear layer/ganglion cell layer was involved in 12 eyes (37.5%). Compared with RP without CME, RP with CME (RP-CME) did not show significant differences in flow density or extent of vascular disruption within the superficial capillary plexus, deep capillary plexus, or foveal avascular zone areas.

RP-CME was mostly located in the inner nuclear layer of the parafoveal macula, without vascular disruption in optical coherence tomography angiography. Our findings may support the hypothesis that the pathogenesis of RP with CME differs from retinal vascular CME triggered by compromised deep capillary plexus.