Comparison of lamina cribrosa properties and the peripapillary vessel density between branch retinal vein occlusion and normal-tension glaucoma.

Je Moon Woo,Chang Kyu Lee,Jae Bong Cha,Sanjoy Bhattacharya

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240109

Je Moon Woo, Chang Kyu Lee + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240109

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Abstract

To compare the properties of the lamina cribrosa (LC) and the peripapillary vessel density between branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), using swept-source optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography. This retrospective study included 21 eyes of 21 patients with BRVO and 43 eyes of 43 patients with NTG who were treated from June 2016 to September 2017. The anterior LC depth (ALCD) and LC thickness (LCT) at the mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior levels; the mean difference in ALCD; and the peripapillary vessel density in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses and the choriocapillaris were compared between groups. ALCD at the mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior levels was significantly greater in the NTG group (P < 0.05), while LCT was comparable between the groups. The mean difference in ALCD was significantly greater in the BRVO group (P = 0.03). The peripapillary vessel density in the superotemporal segment of the superficial capillary plexus was significantly lower in the BRVO group, while the density in all segments of the choriocapillaris was significantly lower in the NTG group (P < 0.05 for all). Our findings demonstrate that BRVO and NTG have different LC structures and peripapillary vessel densities.

Highlights

Retinal vein occlusion is a common cause of vision loss after diabetic retinopathy and agerelated macular degeneration [1, 2]
anterior LC depth (ALCD) at the mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior levels was significantly greater in the normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) group (P < 0.05), while LC thickness (LCT) was comparable between the groups
The peripapillary vessel density in the superotemporal segment of the superficial capillary plexus was significantly lower in the branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) group, while the density in all segments of the choriocapillaris was significantly lower in the NTG group (P < 0.05 for all)

Summary

Introduction

Retinal vein occlusion is a common cause of vision loss after diabetic retinopathy and agerelated macular degeneration [1, 2]. Some patients with BRVO have clinical signs, such as optic disc hemorrhage, an increased cup-to-disc ratio, and visual field defects, that are commonly found in glaucoma patients [4]. This suggests that BRVO and glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), may have a similar pathological mechanism such as blood flow insufficiency, NTG is more often associated with status of hypotension, headache and generalized vasoconstriction of blood vessels especially on the extremities [5,6,7,8]. While BRVO remains stable, unless there is a recurrence of retinal embolism, NTG is a progressive optic neuropathy

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