Which imaging technique can help differentiate between vascular and avascular PEDs?

OCT Angiography (OCT-A) is particularly effective in differentiating between vascular and avascular Pigment Epithelial Detachments (PEDs) due to its ability to visualize the blood flow in retinal and choroidal vessels without the need for dye injection, which is a requirement for traditional angiographic methods.

This non-invasive imaging technique leverages the movement of red blood cells to generate images that indicate perfusion status. In the case of PEDs, if there is significant vascularization, OCT-A will show increased flow, indicating the presence of abnormal neovascularization, commonly associated with conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Conversely, an avascular PED would show little or no blood flow on OCT-A imaging, allowing for clear distinction based on vascular presence.

While Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) provides structural details about the retina and can identify the presence of PEDs, it does not provide the same level of detail regarding blood flow or vascularization as OCT-A. Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA) and Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG) are traditional angiographic techniques that can also show vascular structures, but they require the use of a contrast agent and