Foveal slope measurements in subjects with high-risk of age-related macular degeneration

• Main Authors: Rajiv Raman, Sayalee Lahane, Aditi Gupta, D Sandeep, Tarun Sharma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Chemotherapy; focal treatment; retinoblastoma; Allergic eye disease; papillae; shield ulcer; vernal keratoconjunctivitis; Anti-VEGF injections; bevacizumab; neovascular age-related macular degeneration; ranibizumab; submacular hemorrhage; Emergency department; ocular; trauma; work related injuries; Ocular trauma; open globe injury; preoperative (initial) visual acuity; prognostic factors; relative afferent pupillary defect; Configuration; choroidal neovascular membrane; foveal slope; foveal thickness; macular pigment
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2013;volume=61;issue=9;spage=507;epage=510;aulast=Raman

Background: Recent reports indicated that the slope of the foveal depression influences the macular pigment (MP) spatial profile. MP has been shown to confer possible protection against age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) because of its antioxidant properties. Aims: To study the configuration of foveal slope and the foveal thickness in fellow eyes of subjects with unilateral neovascular ARMD. Settings and design: Case-control series. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 30 cases aged >50, who had unilateral choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) or disciform scar in the fellow eye and 29 controls aged >50, who had no sign of ARMD in the either eye. Using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, foveal thickness at different locations including the central subfield foveal thickness (CSFT) was noted. The foveal slopes were calculated in the six radial scans (between 0.25° and 1° retinal eccentricity) as well as the 3D scan. Results: Cases had a significantly higher CSFT when compared to controls (215.1 ± 36.19 μ vs. 193.0 ± 17.38 μ, P = 0.004). On the 3D scan, the cases had shallower superior (cases 1.32 ± 0.32 vs. controls 1.45 ± 0.13, P = 0.04) and temporal slopes (cases 1.27 ± 0.21 vs. controls 1.39 ± 0.12, P = 0.01) in comparison to the controls. Conclusions: We noted a shallower superior and temporal foveal slope and a higher CSFT in the fellow eyes of subjects with a unilateral neovascular ARMD. Prospective studies observing the development of CNVM in subjects with altered foveal slope might provide more information on this optical coherence tomography finding.