Purpose

To investigate the relationship between choriocapillaris (CC) flow void (FV) percentage and geographic atrophy (GA) growth rate, and study how variations in FV percentage surrounding GA predict regional GA growth.

Methods

This prospective, longitudinal study enrolled subjects with GA secondary to nonexudative age-related macular degeneration. Optical coherence tomography angiography imaged the CC and FV percentage was evaluated using a validated algorithm. GA growth rate was measured as the difference in the square root of GA area divided by the months between baseline and follow-up imaging.

Results

Twelve eyes from 7 subjects with a mean age of 80 ± 5 years (range 74-86) were studied once at baseline and 7 to 16 months later. GA expansion rate was positively correlated with increased CC FV percentage (Spearman rank correlation coefficient r = 0.69 [P = 0.038] and 0.76 [P = 0.013]) within the 6 x 6 mm scanned macular region and the 2° margin surrounding each GA lesion, respectively. Regions with CC FV at baseline located within 480 µm from the GA margin showed 33% greater chance of becoming atrophic compared with regions within 480 µm from the GA margin that did not show CC FV at baseline.

Conclusions

GA expansion rate and CC FV density throughout the macular region and surrounding the GA margin were significantly correlated. The regional magnitude of FV immediately surrounding GA was associated with GA growth into that region.

Translational relevance

CC FV analysis may facilitate prediction of GA growth over time for patients with advanced nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration.