QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA USING SCANNING LASER OPHTHALMOSCOPE IN MODIFIED DARK-FIELD IMAGING

Purpose: To quantitatively analyze cystoid macular edema (CME) using scanning laser ophthalmoscope in the modified dark-field imaging. Methods: We studied 37 eyes with CME associated with different diseases before and after treatment. The CME area was measured with the modified dark-field imaging and fluorescein angiography. The best-corrected visual acuity, mean deviation and macular sensitivity measured by Humphrey automated perimetry, and foveal thickness and macular volume determined by optical coherence tomography were investigated. Results: The CME area could be clearly outlined in 50% with the fluorescein angiography and in 100% with the modified dark-field imaging (P < 0.0001). The CME area calculated using the modified dark-field imaging was significantly correlated with that using the fluorescein angiography (P = 0.0001). Before treatment, the CME area calculated using the modified dark-field imaging was significantly correlated with only the macular volume (P = 0.0230). Three months after treatment, decrease in the CME area was significantly correlated with improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity, mean deviation, macular sensitivity, foveal thickness, and macular volume (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that scanning laser ophthalmoscope in the modified dark-field imaging can measure the CME area and is useful in analyzing CME quantitatively. The findings can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. RETINA 32:1892-1899, 2012