Quantitative Assessment of the Choriocapillaris in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa and in Healthy Individuals Using OCT Angiography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To characterize the choriocapillaris (CC) vasculature in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and healthy controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The CC of patients with RP and controls was analyzed using OCTA. Areas of no-flow, termed flow voids (FVs), were denoted in both. Comparisons between groups were done using Wilcox tests and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were included. There was a significant difference in spherical equivalent (P < .001). The number of FV was 55.5 +/- 20.1 in the RP eyes versus 30.7 +/- 16.3 in the controls (P < .001). The average FV area was 0.33 +/- 0.12 mm(2) in the RP eyes and 0.18 +/- 0.10 mm(2) in the controls (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: There are significantly more FV in patients with RP than in healthy subjects, suggesting it is vital to understanding pathophysiology of RP. Further studies should be done to determine if the compromised CC is a result or cause of RP.