Improving OCTA Visualization of Macular Neovascularization via a Grayscale Inversion Method.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Retinal Diseases

Background:

• Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss.
• Improved visualization of macular neovascularization (MNV) on OCT angiography (OCTA) can enhance clinical assessment.
• A simple image enhancement method for OCTA was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a simple and accessible image enhancement method for OCTA.
• To evaluate the effect of grayscale inversion on MNV visualization and polypoidal lesion detection.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 24 eyes with MNV.
• Generation of grayscale-inverted OCTA images using ImageJ.
• Assessment of MNV features and polypoidal lesions by 21 ophthalmologists using a five-point scale.

Main Results:

• Grayscale inversion significantly improved MNV structure visualization in 6x6 mm and 12x12 mm OCTA scans.
• Detection of polypoidal lesions was significantly enhanced by grayscale inversion.
• No significant differences were observed for 3x3 mm structure or area-related features.

Conclusions:

• Grayscale inversion may enhance MNV visibility and polypoidal lesion detection on OCTA.
• Future research should incorporate quantitative image analysis to complement subjective assessments.