Choroidal biomarkers in age-related macular degeneration

• Published in: Survey of ophthalmology Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 167 - 183
• Main Authors: Sadeghi, Elham, Valsecchi, Nicola, Rahmanipour, Elham, Ejlalidiz, Mahsa, Hasan, Nasiq, Vupparaboina, Kiran Kumar, Ibrahim, Mohammed Nasar, Rasheed, Mohammed Abdul, Baek, Jiwon, Iannetta, Danilo, Chhablani, Jay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.2025
• Subjects: Age-related macular degeneration; Biomarkers - metabolism; Choroid - diagnostic imaging; Choroid - metabolism; Choroid - pathology; Choroidal biomarker; Choroidal contour analysis; Choroidal thickness; Choroidal vascularity; Choroidal vascularity index; Choroidal vessel layer thickness analysis; Choroidal volume; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Macular Degeneration - diagnosis; Macular Degeneration - metabolism; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Choroidal vessel layer thickness analysis; Age-related macular degeneration; Choroidal contour analysis; Choroidal biomarker; Choroidal thickness; Choroidal volume; Choroidal vascularity; Choroidal vascularity index
• ISSN: 0039-6257; 1879-3304; 1879-3304
• DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2024.10.004

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of central visual impairment in the elderly. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms for AMD remain uncertain. Several studies suggest that choroidal abnormalities and alterations are critical in AMD progression. The transition from manual to automated segmentation and binarization techniques has resulted in accurate and precise measurements of different choroidal parameters. These qualitative and quantitative parameters, known as choroidal imaging biomarkers, have advanced from basic vertical subfoveal choroidal thickness to more intricate 3-dimensional choroidal reconstruction methods in the last decade. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of choroidal metrics may investigate valuable insights into AMD, potentially guiding the future development of customized therapeutic strategies and personalized patient care in AMD management. We describe the role of different choroidal biomarkers in evaluating patients with AMD and their contribution to management.