Comparison between optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography for the detection of cystoid macular edema in patients with uveitis

Purpose: To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) with fundus fluoresc ein angiography (FFA) for the detection of cystoid macular edema (CME) in p atients with uveitis. Design: Prospective comparative observational series. Participants. One hundred twenty-one eyes of 58 patients with uveitis of va ried causes (seven patients were studied twice). Testing: Patients with suspected CME underwent OCT scanning followed by FFA at the same visit. Main Outcome Measures: Detection and distribution of macular edema. Results: One hundred eight eyes had similar results on both OCT and FFA in that 67 eyes had CME and 41 eyes had no CME. In 10 eyes subretinal fluid wa s detected on OCT but not FFA. Five of these eyes had CME on FFA but not OC T. Three other eyes had CME that was detected by FFA but not by OCT. Compar ed with FFA, the OCT sensitivity for detecting CME was 96% (including the e yes with subretinal fluid), and the OCT specificity was 100%, Conclusions: OCT is as effective at detecting CME as is FFA but is superior in demonstrating axial distribution of fluid. (C) 2000 by the American Aca demy of Ophthalmology.