OCT Angiography in Healthy Human Subjects

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To noninvasively evaluate the retinal microvasculature in healthy human subjects with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational study of five healthy subjects. OCTA was performed on 3 x 3 mm(2) sections centered on the fovea, nasal macula, and temporal macula. Retinal vasculature was assessed within three horizontal slabs consisting of the inner, middle, and outer retina. The vasculature within each retinal slab was reconstructed using phase-based and intensity contrast-based algorithms and visualized as separate en face images. RESULTS: OCTA in healthy subjects demonstrates capillary networks consistent with previous histological studies. No retinal vessels were found in the outer retina. OCT angiography of the inner and middle retinal layers showed region-specific vascular patterns that consistently corroborated qualitative findings from past histological studies. CONCLUSION: OCTA generates high-resolution, noninvasive angiograms qualitatively similar to conventional fluorescein angiography. OCTA may serve as a bridge to assess some features of the retinal microvasculature between conventionally performed angiograms.