Comparison between the effectiveness of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography in the Diagnosis and Management of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Background: Neo-vascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) (an advanced form of macular degeneration) is the main cause of visual impairment in older adults related to AMD. WHO has estimated that approximately 8 million people will be affected by AMD by the year 2020. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a novel imaging modality that permits direct visualization of the retinal and choroidal vasculature in vivo. In OCTA, high-frequency and dense volumetric scanning are made to detect blood flow by analyzing the signal decorrelation between scans. Compared with stationary areas of the retina, the movement of erythrocytes within a vessel makes a decorrelated signal. Unlike traditional angiography, OCTA does not necessitate the use of exogenous dyes, so avoiding potential side effects, such as nausea or other more serious adverse events. However, the role of OCTA as a diagnostic tool has not been largely investigated. Particularly, very few clinical studies have assessed th e accuracy of OCTA imaging for the diagnosis of nAMD.