Imaging drusens using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PurposeThe purpose was to evaluate pathological changes of photoreceptor layer and retinal pigment epithelium in eyes with drusens using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).MethodsTwenty-nine eyes of 29 patients with (drusens) dry age-related macular degeneration and 43 eyes of 43 controls were included in this study. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination including SD-OCT. Central foveal thickness (CFT), photoreceptor layer (PRL) thickness and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) thickness were measured and compared between the groups. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsBest corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged between 20/20 and 20/200. RPE (36.10 ± 5.48 μm Vs 39.27 ± 4.30) and PRL thickness (53.93 ± 7.36 μm Vs 61.20 ± 4.50 μm) were significantly reduced in patients with drusens compared to controls. Increase in age was a significant risk factor for drusens (OR: 1.22, p < 0.001) and increased PRL thickness was a protective factor (OR: 0.720, p = 0.002). PRL thickness was significantly associated with BCVA (p = 0.019).ConclusionWith an increased resolution of SD-OCT, the involvement of the outer retinal layers was more clearly defined. SD-OCT may allow for the early detection of exudative changes.