The applications of optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic retinopathy

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), an extent function of traditional optical coherence tomography (OCT), is a non-invasive, high-resolution imaging system designed to display vascular networks. The fundamental principle of OCTA is to achieve the signal of blood flow based on the analysis of complex OCT signal, amplitude of OCT signal or phase of OCT signal. OCTA can display and monitor the vascular abnormalities in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), including microaneurysms, vessel density (VD), nonperfusion, neovascularization, and other lesions. OCTA offers a new and potential horizon in the monitor of the DR progress and evaluation of DR treatment.