Microvasculature Changes of Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization and the Predictive Value of Feeder Vessel Disappearance after Ranibizumab Treatment Revealed Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract

Aim: To investigate vascular changes of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) after ranibizumab treatment using optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCTA). Methods: Consecutive subjects with a diagnosis of mCNV were included. Patients underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab treatment with a 6-month follow-up. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and OCTA evaluation. The 3 × 3 OCTA en face images were analyzed for the absence/presence of mCNV, CNV area, and CNV network morphology. In particular, the morphology of the mCNV was analyzed in order to detect the presence/absence of feeder vessels. Results: Eleven subjects were evaluated. At baseline, the mCNV was identified in all cases on OCTA. At 6 months, the mean mCNV area was not statically significantly reduced in comparison with baseline values (p > 0.05), while the morphologic analysis revealed a complete disappearance of the feeder vessel in 6 eyes. The subgroup analysis of these latter showed that the CNV area was significantly reduced, visual acuity had improved, and only one intravitreal injection was administrated over the entire follow-up period. Conclusions: OCTA allowed the detection of qualitative and quantitative vascular changes in mCNV. The disappearance of the feeder vessel was associated with better anatomical as well as functional outcomes at the last follow-up visit.