Directional Reflectivity of the Ellipsoid Zone in Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ellipsoid zone (EZ) reflectivity on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is affected by the orientation of the scanning beam. The authors sought to determine how directional reflectivity changes in dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective image analysis included 17 control and 20 dry AMD subjects. Directional OCT (D-OCT) was performed using multiple displaced pupil entrance positions. EZ pixel values and apparent incidence angles were measured. RESULTS: EZ reflectivity decreased in off-axis scans in controls (P < .001), AMD areas between drusen (P < .001), and AMD areas overlying drusen (P < .001). The magnitude of decrement in EZ reflectivity was significantly higher when incidence angles exceeded 10 degrees in controls than in AMD areas between drusen (P = .024). CONCLUSION: EZ reflectivity in dry AMD may vary by incident angle of light less than in controls, possibly indicating alteration of photoreceptor orientation or integrity.