PurposeTo describe the imaging standards, grading protocol and baseline characteristics of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from the EVEREST study.MethodsIn a prospective, multicentre study, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was performed using a standardised imaging protocol. All images were graded using standardised, calibrated equipment by fellowship-trained ophthalmologists at the Central Reading Center.ResultsSixty-one patients with PCV were included in the study. ICGA characteristics included: nodular appearance stereoscopically (56 eyes, 91.8%), hypofluorescent halo (42, 68.9%), abnormal vascular network (54, 88.5%) and pulsation of the polyps (4, 6.6%). Colour fundus photography revealed orange subretinal nodules (34, 55.7%) and massive submacular haemorrhage (8, 13.1%). The mean area of the PCV lesion was 3.11 mm2 (range, 0.2–10.7 mm2). The vascular channels filled within 7.3–32.0 s (mean: 17.9 s) while the mean filling time for polyps was 21.9 s (range, 7.3–40.4 s). Patients with massive submacular haemorrhage were less likely to have abnormal vascular channels seen on ICGA (28.6% vs 83.3% for those without massive haemorrhage, p=0.001).ConclusionsThe imaging and grading protocols and baseline characteristics of a multicentre, randomised controlled trial of PCV are described in detail, and may serve as reference for future randomised, controlled trials on PCV.Clinical trial numberThis work was supported by Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland grant number NCT00674323 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has galvanized the development of new vaccines at an unprecedented pace. Since the widespread implementation of vaccination campaigns, reports of ocular adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccinations have emerged. This review summarizes ocular adverse effects possibly associated with COVID-19 vaccination, and discusses their clinical characteristics and management. Methods Narrative Literature Review. Results Ocular adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccinations include facial nerve palsy, abducens nerve palsy, acute macular neuroretinopathy, central serous retinopathy, thrombosis, uveitis, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease reactivation, and new-onset Graves’ Disease. Studies in current literature are primarily retrospective case series or isolated case reports – these are inherently weak in establishing association or causality. Nevertheless, the described presentations resemble the reported ocular manifestations of the COVID-19 disease itself. Hence, we hypothesize that the human body’s immune response to COVID-19 vaccinations may be involved in the pathogenesis of the ocular adverse effects post-COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion Ophthalmologists and generalists should be aware of the possible, albeit rare, ocular adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccination.

The PCV subtype seen on initial presentation affects the long-term visual outcomes over a 5-year period.

Subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements are comparable between DRI OCT-1 and Spectralis OCT. The presence of retinal disease increases the variability of choroidal thickness measurements between OCT devices.

Retinal thickness measurements obtained from DRI OCT-1 and SD-OCT are different and should be accounted for when comparing results of OCT scans from different devices.

The visual outcome following treatment varies with PCV subtype classification. The distinction in clinical outcomes between the PCV subtypes is observed in the initial months following the start of treatment.

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PurposeTo describe screening failures in the EVEREST study by examining the imaging characteristics that enabled differentiation of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from cases that were subsequently diagnosed not to be PCV.MethodsPost-hoc analysis of 34 patients with PCV reported as screening failures from EVEREST study. Standardised confocal scanning laser indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) images were graded by the Central Reading Centre to confirm PCV diagnosis based on the presence of early focal sub-retinal hyperfluorescence on ICGA and at least one of the following six diagnostic criteria: (1) nodular appearance of polyp(s) on stereoscopic examination, (2) hypofluorescent halo around nodule(s), (3) presence of a branching vascular network, (4) pulsation of polyp(s) on dynamic ICGA, (5) orange sub-retinal nodules on colour fundus photography, or (6) massive sub-macular haemorrhage (≥4 disc areas in size). Additional detailed image grading was performed with stereo-imaging and dynamic early-phase ICGA.ResultsOf the 95 screened PCV cases, 34 were excluded: (1) cases not suitable for recruitment as per the study protocol (n = 14), (2) equivocal lesions on ICGA characterised by small hyperfluorescent dots (n = 9), and (3) cases that were definitely not PCV (non-PCV, n = 11), identified by definitive diagnoses which included one case each of micro-aneurysm, retinal angiomatous proliferation, retino-choroidal anastomosis, small type-2 choroidal neovascularisation, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) window defect and disciform scar; two cases of lesions where the choroidal vessel changed its course; and three cases of late-onset RPE staining.ConclusionsStandardised image grading techniques used in EVEREST study enabled effective differentiation of non-PCV from actual PCV.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00417-016-3333-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.