Noninvasive Visualization and Analysis of the Human Parafoveal Capillary Network Using Swept Source OCT Optical Microangiography.

PURPOSE We characterized the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the parafoveal capillary network in healthy subjects using swept source OCT optical microangiography (OMAG). METHODS We acquired OMAG images of the macula of 19 eyes (13 healthy individuals) using a prototype swept source laser OCT. En face images of the retinal vasculature were generated for superficial and deep inner retinal layers (SRL/DRL) in regions of interest 250 (ROI-250) and 500 (ROI-500) μm from the FAZ border. RESULTS The mean area (mm2) of the FAZ was 0.304 ± 0.132 for the SRL and 0.486 ± 0.162 for the DRL (P < 0.001). Mean vessel density (%) was 67.3 ± 6.4 for the SRL and 34.5 ± 8.6 for the DRL in the ROI-250 (P < 0.001), and 74.2 ± 3.9 for the SRL and 72.3 ± 4.9 for the DRL in the ROI-500 (P = 0.160). CONCLUSIONS Swept source OMAG images of healthy subjects allowed analysis of the FAZ and the density of the parafoveal capillary network at different retinal layers.