Abstract
Changes in retinal vasculature and ocular circulation may play an important role in the glaucoma development and progression. We evaluated the vertical asymmetry across the temporal raphe of the deep retinal layer vessel density, using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA), and its relationship with the central visual field (VF) loss. Thirty-four eyes of 27 patients with open-angle glaucoma were included. SS-OCTA macular scanning was performed within a 3 × 3 mm (300 × 300 pixels) volume, centred on the fovea. The relationships between the vertical asymmetrical deep retinal vessel density reduction (ADRVD) across the temporal raphe and various ocular parameters were analysed. Twenty-two glaucomatous eyes with ADRVDs had central VF loss. Contrarily, ADRVDs were not found in any of the 12 eyes without central VF loss. Thirteen eyes (59.1%) with central VF loss had ADRVDs topographically corresponding to the central VF loss and macular ganglion cell complex thinning. The glaucomatous eyes with ADRVDs exhibited inferior rather than superior central VF loss (P = 0.032). Thus, ADRVD specifically indicates the glaucomatous central visual loss. Further analysis of ADRVD may improve our understanding on glaucoma pathogenesis, offering new treatment insights.
Highlights
Changes in retinal vasculature and ocular circulation may play an important role in the glaucoma development and progression
asymmetrical deep retinal vessel density reduction (ADRVD) may occur in glaucomatous eyes with vertically asymmetric central visual field (VF) loss
The mechanisms underlying the relationship between the development of ADRVD across the temporal raphe and functional and structural changes associated with glaucoma remain unclear; the possible concurrence of these changes further confounds the mechanism
Summary
Changes in retinal vasculature and ocular circulation may play an important role in the glaucoma development and progression. We evaluated the vertical asymmetry across the temporal raphe of the deep retinal layer vessel density, using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SSOCTA), and its relationship with the central visual field (VF) loss. Information from OCTA studies may enhance our understanding of how ocular blood flow and the retinal microvasculature influence glaucoma development and progression. Using the DRL OCTA images that have had PAs removed, we have noticed that patients with glaucoma often exhibit vertical asymmetry of vessel-density loss across the temporal raphe. We aimed to evaluate the OCTA findings and characterise the vertical asymmetrical loss of deep retinal vessel density in glaucomatous eyes
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have