Abstract
Purpose This study sought to analyze peripapillary retinal vessel diameter and evaluate its correlation with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with unilateral normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Methods This retrospective study included 37 patients with unilateral NTG and 40 healthy controls. The unilateral NTG patients were selected based on RNFL photography and unilateral visual field (VF) defects from the Humphrey central 30-2 threshold test. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) were measured and calculated using retinal photographs and a computer-assisted calculation program. The RNFL thickness was measured using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Results The mean CRAE and CRVE were significantly narrower in the glaucomatous and fellow eyes of the unilateral NTG patients than they were in the normal subjects (p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between CRAE/CRVE and RNFL thickness. There was only a significant correlation between VF severity and RNFL thickness in unilateral NTG eyes. Conclusions Both NTG-affected eyes and NTG-fellow eyes in the unilateral NTG patients had narrower central retinal vessel diameters than did the eyes of normal subjects. Our results show that vascular factors may play a role in the NTG pathogenesis.
Highlights
Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by progressive injury to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which subsequently leads to visual field loss and is parallel to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with the exception of a normal intraocular pressure (IOP) [1]
Among those who support the vascular theory of glaucoma, there has been some interest in the diameter of the retinal vessels [7,8,9]
We evaluated the relationships between retinal vessel diameter and other factors, such as retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and IOP
Summary
Normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) is a chronic optic neuropathy characterized by progressive injury to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which subsequently leads to visual field loss and is parallel to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) with the exception of a normal intraocular pressure (IOP) [1]. The vascular theory describes abnormal perfusion of the optic nerve for various reasons (both systemic and ocular reasons), which leads to the development of NTG [3,4,5,6]. Among those who support the vascular theory of glaucoma, there has been some interest in the diameter of the retinal vessels [7,8,9]. Rader et al found that the general narrowing of the caliber of retinal arteries was related to the severity of optic nerve damage in eyes with classic glaucoma and NTG [8]. Mitchell et al showed that eyes with open-angle glaucoma had a significantly narrower retinal arteriolar diameter than did normal eyes [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
