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Updated: Nov 22, 2025
Evaluation of Capillary and Other Vessel Contribution to Macular Perfusion Density Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: February 18, 2022
Quantitative assessment of choriocapillaris flow deficits in eyes with macular neovascularization
Federico Corvi1,2,3, Mariano Cozzi3, Giulia Corradetti1,2
1Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate choriocapillaris flow deficits (CC FD) in a group of eyes with Type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV) versus a group of eyes with Type 1 and/or 2 MNV versus healthy eyes.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional, retrospective, multicenter, observational study, consecutive patients with Type 3 MNV, Type 1 and/or 2 MNV, and age-matched controls were included. PLEX Elite optical coherence tomography angiography was performed with a 6 × 6 mm scan pattern centered on the fovea. The CC FD was computed in 4 peripheral 1 × 1 mm squares to allow comparison between equidistant regions unaffected by MNV.
Results:
Twenty Type 3, 20 Type 1 and/or 2 MNV [13 (65%) Type 1 MNV, 1 (5%) Type 2 MNV, and 6 (30%) mixed Type 1 and 2 MNV], and 20 age-matched controls were included. The mean impairment in the CC in the 4 peripheral squares was 16.07 ± 7.27% in Type 3 MNV eyes, 11.48 ± 5.59% in Type 1/2 MNV eyes, and 9.64 ± 3.59% in controls. Type 3 MNV displayed a statistically significantly higher CC FD compared with both Type 1/2 MNV (P = 0.031) and controls (P < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between Type 1/2 MNV and controls (P = 0.223).
Conclusions:
CC FD was significantly greater in the peripheral macular regions of eyes with Type 3 MNV compared to eyes with Type 1/2 MNV and normal control eyes. Pathogenic choroidal mechanisms may differ in eyes with different MNV subtypes. Whereas focal CC impairment may drive the development of Type 1/2 MNV, diffuse CC disruption may be more important in eyes with Type 3 MNV.
