Choriocapillaris flow deficit in a pachychoroid spectrum disease using en face optical coherence tomography angiography averaging

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the choriocapillaris changes associated with pachychoroid pigment epitheliopathy (PPE) in comparison with healthy eyes. Methods Nine 3 × 3 mm macular optical coherence tomography angiography images were acquired in patients with PPE and age-matched healthy participants. Multiple en face image averaging of the choriocapillaris was binarized for quantitative image analysis of the flow voids. In PPE eyes, we evaluated the presence of pachyvessels and the association between the location of the choriocapillaris flow deficit and pachyvessels. Results Thirty-two eyes with PPE and 30 eyes of healthy participants were included. In PPE eyes, the mean total area (1.16 ± 0.18 vs. 0.91 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) and average size of the flow voids (790 ± 144 vs. 520 ± 138; p < 0.001) were significantly larger than those in control eyes. Composite images of the choriocapillaris and choroid showed choriocapillaris flow deficits just above and outside the pachyvessels. The mean proportion of the flow void area overlying the pachyvessels against the whole flow void area of the choriocapillaris was 21.3% ± 10.2% (9.38%-44.42%) in PPE eyes. Conclusions In PPE eyes, the blood flow area of the choriocapillaris decreased diffusely within the macular area compared to control eyes, and the choriocapillaris flow deficit was not necessarily related to pachyvessel location.