Short time effect of sodium fluorescein on chorodial vascularity index.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of sodium fluorescein on the choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 27 eyes of 27 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy patients (without maculopathy and any systemic disease) who performed fluorescein angiography (FA) procedure were included. Choroidal parameters such as choroidal thickness (CT), total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), LA/SA, and CVI were examined with the optical coherence tomography and binarization technique at baseline and 5th, 15th, and 30th minutes after FA. The values of the parameters before and after the procedure were compared.

Results: At baseline, the mean values of the TCA, LA, SA, LA/SA, and CVI were 0.44 ± 0.14mm2, 0.29 ± 0.09 mm2, 0.15 ± 0.05 mm2, 1.87 ± 0.19. Five minutes later to FA, the mean values of the TCA, LA, SA, LA/SA, and CVI were 0.43 ± 0.13 mm2, 0.28 ± 0.08 mm2, 0.15 ± 0.05 mm2, 1.82 ± 0.20, and 0.64 ± 0.03, respectively. There was a significant decrease in LA and CVI values 5 minutes after FA (p:0.002 and p:0.021, respectively). On the other hand, the mean, nasal, subfoveal, and temporal CT were 279.22 ± 93.40 μm, 289.78 ± 91.17 μm, 267.44 ± 95.71 μm before FA and 270.33 ± 90.34 μm, 279.67 ± 90.01 μm, 261.82 ± 95.82 μm 5 minutes after FA (p = 0.960, p = 0.952, and p = 0.991, respectively). Although there was a reduction in the value of CT, there was not a statistically significant difference between before and after FA.

Conclusions: This study shows that there was a significant decrease in LA and CVI values 5 minutes after FA in patients with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.