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Updates on novel and traditional OCT and OCTA biomarkers in nAMD

Eye volume 39, pages 1662–1672 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Predictivity of optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination for the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) was demonstrated to be superior compared to other methods, suggesting it as an elective method for screening purposes. Moreover, OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA) have enabled us to provide accurate prognostic information to nAMD patients. Along with well-known prognostic biomarkers, such as the presence of reticular pseudodrusen, the volume of the pigment epithelial detachment (PED), subretinal fluid (SRF), intraretinal fluid (IRF) and hyperreflective foci (HRF), emerging parameters show promising results and may allow a further refinement of prediction and customization of treatment and follow up strategies. This review of the literature discusses the main OCT and OCTA biomarkers reported in literature for nAMD, with a special focus on recent updates on the subject. Future perspectives of clinical applications include the development of artificial intelligence models considering all the described biomarkers to allow automatic and detailed characterization of each lesion based on imaging information.

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Funding

The research for this paper for the IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti was financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Health and Fondazione Roma, Italy.

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Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Emanuele Crincoli, Maria Cristina Parravano.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology Unit, “Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS”, Rome, Italy

    Emanuele Crincoli

  2. IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Rome, Rome, Italy

    Maria Cristina Parravano, Eliana Costanzo & Maria Sole Polito

  3. Department of Ophthalmology University Vita-Salute IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, Milan, Italy

    Riccardo Sacconi

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Lorenzo Ferro Desideri & Giuseppe Querques

Authors
  1. Emanuele Crincoli
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  2. Maria Cristina Parravano
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  3. Riccardo Sacconi
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  4. Eliana Costanzo
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  5. Maria Sole Polito
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  7. Giuseppe Querques
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Contributions

EC and MCP performed literature research, wrote the draft and provided revisions; EC, GQ, LFD, MSP and RS contributed to literature research, revised the manuscript and collected the Figures; GQ and MCP supervised the work.

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Correspondence to Giuseppe Querques.

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MP reports personal fees from Abbvie, Novartis, Bayer, Roche, Zeiss, outside the submitted work.

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Crincoli, E., Parravano, M.C., Sacconi, R. et al. Updates on novel and traditional OCT and OCTA biomarkers in nAMD. Eye 39, 1662–1672 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-03801-6

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