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Imaging of a retinal pigment epithelium aperture using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate cases with a retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) aperture using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT).

Study design

Retrospective consecutive case series.

Methods

A retrospective study that included three eyes (three patients) with RPE aperture and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) evaluated at the Macular Clinic in Tokyo University Hospital. A three-dimensional dataset of depolarization information was obtained with a clinical prototype of PS-OCT.

Results

All patients were categorized as intermediate AMD. RPE apertures were identified with PS-OCT as discontinuities of depolarization in the RPE layer of the pigment epithelial detachment (PED). A nonuniform decrease of depolarization in the RPE layer was also observed around the aperture. Two findings were observed above the aperture, intraretinal focal areas with high reflectivity and increased depolarization and subretinal bands with moderate reflectivity and low depolarization. Retinal sensitivity according to fundus microperimetry measured at 25 points was significantly associated with the degree of depolarization at the corresponding area (r-square = 0.60, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

The RPE aperture was characterized as a round discontinuity of depolarization. The findings with PS-OCT suggest atrophic changes in the overlying RPE of the PED. The degree of depolarization was associated with retinal sensitivity. The current results indicate that RPE apertures developed within the spectrum of atrophic AMD.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by AMED under Grant Number JP19he1302011. N. Aoki, Grant (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development); M. Yamanari, Grant (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development); S. Sugiyama, Grant (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development); S. Kato, Grant (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan

    Ryo Obata, Akie Yoshinaga, Motoshi Yamamoto, Kayoko Komatsu, Takahiro Minami, Keiko Azuma, Tatsuya Inoue, Makoto Aihara & Satoshi Kato

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Saitama Red-Cross Hospital, Saitama, Japan

    Akie Yoshinaga

  3. Tomey Corporation, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan

    Nobuyori Aoki, Masahiro Yamanari & Satoshi Sugiyama

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan

    Tatsuya Inoue

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  1. Ryo Obata
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Correspondence to Ryo Obata.

Ethics declarations

R. Obata, None; A. Yoshinaga, None; M. Yamamoto, None; K. Komatsu, None; N. Aoki, Employee (TOMEY); M. Yamanari, Employee (TOMEY); S. Sugiyama, Employee (TOMEY); T. Minami, None; K. Azuma, None; T. Inoue, None; M. Aihara, None; S. Kato, None.

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Corresponding Author: Ryo Obata

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Obata, R., Yoshinaga, A., Yamamoto, M. et al. Imaging of a retinal pigment epithelium aperture using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. Jpn J Ophthalmol 65, 30–41 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00787-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00787-4

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