Purpose: To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) images obtained with swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) and spectral domain OCT (SD-OCT) in pathological myopia.
Methods: This is a comparative observational cases series. Five patients with pathological myopia underwent SD-OCT and SS-OCT imaging. SS-OCT was performed using a prototype system (Topcon Medical Systems). SD-OCT was performed using enhanced depth imaging on the Heidelberg Spectralis OCT. The closest corresponding scans from the central subfield were compared.
Results: Eight eyes of five patients with pathological myopia were included (mean spherical equivalent: -16.00 ± 4.70 D). Overall, SS-OCT better visualized retino-choroidal structures. The choroid, inner segment (IS)/outer segment (OS) line, and external limiting membrane (ELM) were clearly seen in a higher proportion of SS-OCT than SD-OCT scans, (P<0.01 for all) whereas visualization of the sclera and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were similar. SS-OCT demonstrated foveoschisis in four eyes, with one of these not visible on SD-OCT. The wider SS-OCT scan revealed additional pathology not visible using SD-OCT along the staphyloma walls in 4/8 images. These included incomplete posterior vitreous detachment in one eye and peripheral retinoschisis in 3/8 eyes. Vitreoschisis was visible in 3/8 SS-OCT images but not in the SD-OCT images.
Conclusion: SS-OCT is useful for imaging the posterior staphyloma of pathological myopia, providing greater detail than SD-OCT.