Spectral-domain Optical Coherence Tomography Characteristics of Chorioretinal Folds

Purpose: To describe the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography features of chorioretinal folds of various etiology. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional observational case series of consecutive patients with chorioretinal folds. All patients underwent enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography over a two-month study period. Clinical variables and imaging features including subfoveal choroidal thickness and chorioretinal fold morphology were analysed. Results: 11 of 628 patients evaluated presented with chorioretinal folds. Diagnoses included hyperopia, uveal effusion, and secondary to surgery or medications. 22 patients presented with lesions simulating chorioretinal folds on ophthalmoscopy but were found not to be true chorioretinal folds with optical coherence tomography. Subfoveal choroidal thickness was diffusely thick in hyperopia, uveal effusion, hypotony, and topiramate, and normal in cases following scleral buckle and trauma. Lesions simulating chorioretinal folds occurred in age-related choroidal atrophy, and demonstrated chorioretinal contour changes involving specific choroidal vessels in an overall thin choroid. Conclusion: Chorioretinal folds occurred in the context of a diffusely thick choroid in high hyperopia and hypotony, and with a normal choroidal thickness following scleral buckle or trauma. Enhanced depth imaging OCT is helpful in differentiating chorioretinal folds from various etiologies and from simulating lesions.