Abstract
PurposeTo examine retinal vasculometry associations with different glaucomas in older British people.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsA total of 8,623 European Prospective Investigation into Cancer-Norfolk Eye study participants were examined, who underwent retinal imaging, ocular biometry assessment, and clinical ascertainment of ocular hypertensive or glaucoma status (including glaucoma suspect [GS], high-tension open-angle glaucoma [HTG], and normal-tension glaucoma [NTG]). Automated measures of arteriolar and venular tortuosity, area, and width from retinal images were obtained. MainOutcomeMeasures: Associations between glaucoma and retinal vasculometry outcomes were analyzed using multilevel linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, height, axial length, intraocular and systemic blood pressure, and within-person clustering, to provide absolute differences in width and area, and percentage differences in vessel tortuosity. Presence or absence of within-person-between-eye differences in retinal vasculometry by diagnoses were examined.ResultsA total of 565,593 vessel segments from 5,947 participants (mean age 67.6 years, SD 7.6 years, 57% women) were included; numbers with HTG, NTG, and GS in at least 1 eye were 87, 82, and 439, respectively. Thinner arterioles (−3.2 μm; 95% confidence interval [CI] −4.4 μm, −1.9 μm) and venules (−2.7 μm; 95% CI −4.9 μm, −0.5 μm) were associated with HTG. Reduced venular area was associated with HTG (−0.2 mm2; 95% CI −0.3 mm2, −0.1 mm2) and NTG (−0.2 mm2; 95% CI −0.3 mm2, −0.0 mm2). Less tortuous retinal arterioles and venules were associated with all glaucomas, but only significantly for GS (−3.9%; 95% CI −7.7%, −0.1% and −4.8%; 95% CI −7.4%, −2.1%, respectively). There was no evidence of within-person-between-eye differences in retinal vasculometry associations by diagnoses.ConclusionsRetinal vessel width associations with glaucoma and novel associations with vessel area and tortuosity, together with no evidence of within-person-between-eye differences in retinal vasculometry, suggest a vascular cause of glaucoma.
Highlights
Glaucoma includes a heterogeneous group of diseases that result in optic neuropathy and progressive retinal ganglion cell degeneration, leading to visual loss.[3]
Characteristics of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC) Norfolk participants who took part in the Eye Study with and without usable fundus images have been described previously.[23]. Those taking part were younger at baseline, were of higher Body mass index (BMI) and socioeconomic status, and were less likely to be a current smoker compared to participants not followed up.[23]
Nantly White European cohort of middle-aged and older men and women, we showed that an ocular diagnosis of Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) ( high-tension POAG (HTG)) was associated with reduced retinal arteriolar and venular width, and with reduced venular area
Summary
STUDY POPULATION: The EPIC study is a pan-European cohort study designed to investigate the causes of major chronic diseases.[20]. Participants underwent multiple clinical assessments, including repeat anthropometric assessment, venous blood sampling, retinal imaging (the EPIC Norfolk Eye Study) and physiological measures.[22]. EPIC NORFOLK EYE STUDY: Between 2004 and 2011 at the third clinical follow-up assessment, 8,623 participants provided updated information on medical history and lifestyle behavior.[23] The study was carried out following the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care. Weight and height were measured with participants in light clothing without shoes. Serum total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured using an autoanalyzer (RA 1000 Technicon; Bayer Diagnostics, Basingstoke, UK); LDL-cholesterol was calculated using the Fredrickson–Friedewald equation.[24]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
