Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Ultrahigh Resolution Mouse Optical Coherence Tomography to Aid Intraocular Injection in Retinal Gene Therapy Research
Published on: November 2, 2018
Comparing Eye-Level and Site-Specific High-Risk Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers Preceding the Onset of Large
Omar Badla1, Mengxi Shen1, Omar S El-Mulki1
1From the Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, (O.B., M.S., O.S.E., G.H., S.B., W.L., E.H., O.T., R.O., G.G., P.J.R.) Miami, Florida, USA.
Hyperreflective foci (HRF) are the primary optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarker preceding large hypertransmission defects (hyperTDs) in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD). Soft drusenoid lesions often co-occur with HRF, but are not independently predictive of hyperTD formation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Retinal Diseases
Background:
- Intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) is a precursor to advanced stages.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is crucial for monitoring AMD progression.
- Identifying early biomarkers for hypertransmission defects (hyperTDs) is vital for predicting disease advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare site-specific OCT biomarkers preceding large hyperTDs with previously identified eye-level biomarkers in iAMD.
- To determine the most frequent OCT findings at the exact location of future large hyperTD formation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort study involving eyes with iAMD.
- Swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) imaging was used.
- Large hyperTDs were defined by specific dimensions on en face RPE slab images.
Main Results:
- 48% of iAMD eyes developed large hyperTDs.
- Hyperreflective foci (HRF) were the most common site-specific biomarker (74%) preceding large hyperTDs.
- Soft drusenoid lesions were frequent (65%) but often co-occurred with HRF.
Conclusions:
- Site-specific HRF are the predominant OCT biomarker indicating a high risk for developing large hyperTDs in iAMD.
- The frequent co-occurrence of soft drusenoid lesions and HRF supports previous findings that drusen volume alone is not independently predictive of hyperTD formation.
