OCTA system offers exquisite views
A new high-density OCT angiography system (AngioVueHD, OptoVue) provides exquisite views of the retinal microvasculature without the need for injection of fluorescein dye.
Reviewed by Daniel D. Esmaili, MD
The latest advancement in optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, a high-density OCT angiography (OCTA) system (AngioVueHD, OptoVue) provides benefits for both surgeons and patients.
Perhaps the greatest advantage is that the technology facilitates improved evaluation of the retinal microvasculature without the patient having to undergo injection of fluorescein dye. The time required for patient evaluations is also decreased substantially.
The new system is a boon for ophthalmologists, said Daniel D. Esmaili, MD.
“The technology has done several things for us, the first of which is that we can now evaluate the retinal microvasculature without having to administer a dye as is required when performing fluorescein angiography,” said Dr. Esmaili, private practice at Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group, Los Angeles. “In addition, the system allows us to evaluate patients much more conveniently and rapidly.”
For example, in a patient with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the clinician can easily evaluate the choroidal neovascular lesions periodically in a matter of seconds and as often as desired.
OCTA images are obtained concurrently with the standard structural OCT images, which eliminates extra time that would be added to a different method of evaluation.