Optimized imaging of the suprachoroidal space with swept-source OCT

Purpose: To compare enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and non-EDI swept source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) in their ability to capture the suprachoroidal space (SCS). Materials and methods: Twenty volunteers with a minimum age of 18 years without any ocular pathology and refractive error below A} 2 diopters underwent SS-OCT foveal scanning, with and without EDI. Masked averaged B-scan lines were analyzed for presence of the SCS. When the SCS was seen, the percentage of the scan on which this structure could be unequivocally observed was measured. Scores obtained from the images taken with or without EDI were then compared. Results: Thirty-seven eyes were analysed, since three eyes of three different patients were eliminated, as the outer border of the choroid was insufficiently delineated with both modalities. The SCS was not detected at all on 14 pictures (37.8%) obtained by non-EDI SS-OCT and 9 pictures (24.3%) obtained by EDI SS-OCT. When the SCS was detected with both modalities, it was observable on 27.2+/-24.2% of the scan without EDI and 40.4+/-30.3 of the scan with EDI (p < .001) Conclusions: EDI SS-OCT enables a more frequent and extensive visualization of the suprachoroidal space than non-EDI SS-OCT. This new approach could be considered as the most accurate modality to currently visualize the SCS in vivo.