Abstract
We analyzed the vascular densities (VDs) of the optic disc areas in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) according to their branch retinal vessel occlusion (BRVO) status. The VDs of the optic discs and peripapillary areas of 68 NTG patients with BRVO (BRVO group; BRVO eyes and fellow eyes) and 37 patients with NTG alone (control eyes) were measured on angiographic images obtained via swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography. VDs were compared among groups and correlations were assessed. The VD of the optic disc large vessel was the highest in BRVO eyes, followed by the fellow eyes and controls (all P < 0.05). Conversely, small and medium vessel VD was in the opposite order (all P < 0.05). Large vessel VD was negatively correlated with small and medium vessel VD (r = −0.697, P < 0.001). Peripapillary VD was lower in the BRVO eyes than in the control and fellow eyes (P < 0.001 and P = 0.861, respectively). In conclusion, significant changes in the distribution of VDs for optic disc larger vessel and small and medium vessels were observed in both eyes of NTG patients with BRVO, compared to NTG patients without BRVO.
Highlights
optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables the noninvasive visualization of vessels in the retina and optic disc as well as the quantification of vessel parameters, imparting detailed information regarding hemodynamic changes associated with disease
We quantitatively analyzed the vascular densities (VDs) of optic disc vessels evident in OCTA images of eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), according to their branch retinal vessel occlusion (BRVO) status; we compared these findings between and among groups
We found differences in the VDs of the optic disc and peripapillary area between eyes with NTG, according to their BRVO status; we found correlations between the VDs of the large and small and medium vessels in the disc and peripapillary area
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The results of OCTA studies have supported the notion that hemodynamic changes may trigger glaucoma Such studies have revealed reduced vascular densities (VDs) in the optic disc and peripapillary area in eyes with glaucoma, including NTG [13,14,15,16,17]. Given that pathogenic hemodynamic parameters are shared by eyes with NTG and eyes with RVO, an analysis of vessel structures around the disc in patients with these diseases might afford useful insights into the roles played by vascular changes. We identified changes in the vascular structures of the optic disc and peripapillary area and we used OCTA to quantitatively analyze the VDs of eyes with NTG, according to their branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) status
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