Leuven Eye Study – Baseline and Methods

Abstract

PurposeGlaucoma is known to be associated with vascular dysfunction. However, integrating this knowledge in the clinical setting has been limited, considering the majority of vascular oriented studies have been either underpowered or only addressed a small segment of the vascular parameters in strictly selected patients. The Leuven Eye Study aims at bridging this gap by prospectively collecting the largest amount of vascular oriented data in a large real‐life glaucoma clinic setting.MethodsProspective, cross‐sectional, case–control hospital‐based study. Patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG), glaucoma suspect or ocular hypertension (OHT) and healthy volunteers were recruited. In addition to an ophthalmological examination, a vascular‐oriented questionnaire was completed and ocular blood flow assessment (color Doppler imaging of retrobulbar vessels, retinal oximetry, dynamic contour tonometry, optical coherent tomography enhanced depth imaging of the choroid) was performed in each subject.Results620 subjects (297 male) were recruited between March and December 2013 (POAG: 214, NTG: 192; glaucoma suspect: 41; OHT: 27; healthy controls: 146). Mean age was 68.4 ± 12.9 years. Other than IOP, there was no difference in demographic variables between glaucoma groups and healthy volunteers. Values for the ocular blood flow parameters are in line with the current literature.ConclusionsThe Leuven Eye study stands as the largest clinical trial on ocular blood flow in glaucoma. The creation of this vast database may help integrate the vascular aspects of glaucoma into the clinical practice of glaucoma.