Optical coherence tomography angiography for choroidal neovascularization in pathological myopia and neovascular age-related macular degeneration in combination with axial myopia in comparative analysis

Background. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is currently an important method of visualization and assessment of fundus pathology in various diseases. The study of combined pathologies is not well covered.
The aim: to compare OCTA features during choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in pathological myopia (PM) and in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in combination with axial myopia (nAMD + M) against the background of anti-VEGF therapy.
Materials and methods. A prospective study included 70 eyes with active CNV. Comparative analysis of parameters was carried out between two groups: with PM – 47 eyes; with nAMD + M – 23 eyes.
Results. 4 OCTA patterns were established in both groups: dense, loose, mixed and unidentifi able. With PM, dense pattern was found in 28 (59.57 %) eyes, loose pattern – in 16 (34.04 %), mixed pattern– in 2 (4.26 %), unidentifi able pattern – in 1 (2.13 %). In the nAMD + M group, dense pattern was rare – in 1 (4.35 %) eye, loose pattern – in 7 (30.44 %), mixed pattern – in 9 (39.13 %), unidentifi able pattern – in 6 (26.08 %). The fi rst group was characterized by a dense pattern that was found at a younger age, the second group was characterized by dense and mixed patterns. The greatest area and density of CNV were found with a loose pattern in both groups (p < 0.05). The observation period until the stabilization of CNV was achieved was longer in the loose and mixed patterns in the PM group, and in the loose and unidentifi able – in the nAMD + M group (p < 0.05). Loose and unidentifi able patterns require more injections. The halo was determined by the presence of intraretinal fluid in the retina.
Conclusion. OCTA showed common features and distinctive features in the course of CNV in patients with PM and nAMD + M during anti-VEGF therapy. OCTA can be useful in assessing CNV activity and predicting the eff ect of treatment.

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