Directional Reflectivity of the Ellipsoid Zone in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Published in: Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 145 - 152
• Main Authors: Griffin, Shane M., Jia, Yali, Johnson, Alicia J., Antony, Bhavna J., McDonald, H. Richard, Johnson, Robert N., Lujan, Brandon J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare, NJ SLACK Incorporated 01.03.2021; Slack, Inc; SLACK INCORPORATED
• Subjects: Age; Age related diseases; Angle of reflection; Diabetic retinopathy; Eye diseases; Image analysis; Incidence angle; Macular degeneration; Optical Coherence Tomography; Photoreceptors; Physiological aspects; Reflectance
• ISSN: 2325-8160; 2325-8179; 2325-8179
• DOI: 10.3928/23258160-20210302-05

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ellipsoid zone (EZ) reflectivity on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is affected by the orientation of the scanning beam. The authors sought to determine how directional reflectivity changes in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective image analysis included 17 control and 20 dry AMD subjects. Directional OCT (D-OCT) was performed using multiple displaced pupil entrance positions. EZ pixel values and apparent incidence angles were measured. RESULTS: EZ reflectivity decreased in off-axis scans in controls (P < .001), AMD areas between drusen (P < .001), and AMD areas overlying drusen (P < .001). The magnitude of decrement in EZ reflectivity was significantly higher when incidence angles exceeded 10° in controls than in AMD areas between drusen (P = .024). CONCLUSION: EZ reflectivity in dry AMD may vary by incident angle of light less than in controls, possibly indicating alteration of photoreceptor orientation or integrity. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:145–152.]