Structure-function Relationships in Uveitic Cystoid Macular Edema: Using En Face Optical Coherence Tomography to Predict Vision

Purpose: To explore whether preserved retinal tissue on baseline en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) correlates with post-treatment visual acuity in patients with uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema (CME). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 25 eyes (23 patients) with uveitis and CME, with resolution of CME at post-treatment follow-up. Baseline en face OCT images were analyzed to determine the proportion of pixels representing preserved retinal tissue. Macular thickness and volume data were also analyzed. Results: The proportion of preserved retinal tissue on baseline OCT strongly correlated with baseline visual acuity (r = 0.61, p = 0.0014), and correlated even better with vision after CME resolution (r = 0.73, p<0.0001). Weak correlations were found between macular thickness and volume at baseline and post-treatment acuity (r = 0.38, p = 0.058 and r = 0.39, p = 0.055). Conclusions: Preserved retinal tissue at baseline strongly correlates with post-treatment visual acuity in patients with uveitis-associated CME, and is a better predictor of future vision than macular thickness or volume.