Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for the detection of Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: a Comprehensive Diagnostic Accuracy Study. (ATHENA)

Research summary

This study is looking at the best way to confirm the presence of an eye condition known as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a common condition that affects vision. nAMD usually affects people in their 50s and 60s, and diagnosis is confirmed by examining the back of the eye. There are a number of ways of doing this, the most common being Fluorescein Angiography (FA) where any leakage of a fluorescent dye over several minutes is detected by a special camera. As well as being labour-intensive, time-consuming and inconvenient for the patient, FA is not always informative, and sometimes a further dye test called Indocyanine-Green Angiography (ICGA) is needed to confirm diagnosis of nAMD, especially when a variant of nAMD called Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy (PCV), is suspected. Newer techniques for looking at the back of eye are now available. One is called Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that quickly scans the back of the eye. Alongside a clinical examination, OCT is now the preferred imaging test to confirm the diagnosis of nAMD. The findings of OCT can be confused with other conditions and so to get a definite diagnosis of nAMD it is often used alongside other tests such as FA/ICGA. Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCTA) is a more recent technology already available in many NHS Trusts. OCTA provides a better image of the retina and the blood flow to the back of the eye. We would like to see if OCTA is a good enough test to replace FA.

Principal Investigator

Dr Samantha De Silva

Contact us

Email: ERGO@ouh.nhs.uk

IRAS number

295260