LAUSR

PURPOSE To evaluate the association between choriocapillaris (CC) flow deficits and structural OCT biomarkers, and the progression of intermediate AMD (iAMD) to complete retinal pigment epithelial and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA). METHODS Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with iAMD with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Odds ratios of intraretinal hyperreflective foci (IRHF), hyporeflective drusen cores (hDC), subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD), presence of drusen volume (DV) ≥ 0.03 mm within a central 3-mm circle, fellow eye with late stage of AMD, CC FD at baseline and months of follow-up were estimated from logistic regression. RESULTS A total of 112 eyes with iAMD were included. Eyes which progressed were significantly more likely to show IRHF, hDC and DV ≥ 0.03 mm. The CC flow deficit was also significantly greater in eyes which developed cRORA. IRHF, hDC, DV ≥ 0.03 mm and higher CC flow deficit were significantly and independently associated with the development of cRORA. CONCLUSIONS CC flow deficit was significantly greater in iAMD eyes that progressed to cRORA, and remained an independent risk factor when structural OCT biomarkers were considered. CC flow deficit may be useful for enhancing risk stratification and prognostication of patients with iAMD.