Possible Association Between Retinal Arterial Occlusions and Subretinal Drusenoid Deposits: A Missing Link.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between retinal artery occlusion (RAO), subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), and choroidal circulation.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Patients with RAO and healthy age-matched volunteers were included in this study. The presence of SDD, choriocapillaris perfusion area, and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analyzed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography.

RESULTS

In total, 25 patients with RAO (14 women and 11 men, 71.5 ± 8.9 years) and 19 healthy individuals (10 women and 9 men, 69.0 ± 5.2 years) were included. SDD were found in seven RAO patients (28.0%), among whom four (18.2%) had no age-related macular degeneration. Patients with RAO had a statistically significantly lower choriocapillaris perfusion area and subfoveal choroidal thickness than healthy controls (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

RAO may have an association with the presence of SDD that agrees with common systemic risk factors and changes of posterior eye segment microcirculation for both conditions.