While OCT angiography (OCT-A) is showing significant promise for retinal changes due to everything from AMD and diabetic retinopathy to glaucoma, clinicians can’t discount its utility for anterior segment imaging too, according to new data presented at ARVO 2019 in Vancouver. Researchers explored the use of OCT-A to study the vasculature of the eyelid margin and found that quantitative measurements of eyelid margin vascular density can be obtained this way; the technique may provide future insight into eyelid margin disease.

The team studied 13 eyes of 10 subjects between the ages of 52 and 80 (mean age 64) and obtained images of the lower lid margin using the 3x3mm retina OCT-A protocol using a custom-designed anterior segment adapter lens and headrest modification.

After quantitative analysis, they realized the images showed clearly visible vasculature, excellent visualization of the vascular network and meibomian gland orifices. The researchers note that the mean vessel density was 16.8% with a standard deviation of 7.73% and a range of 7.65% to 35.59%.