Retinal vessel analysis in vascular occlusions of the eye

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: This cohort study investigates how the static and dynamic vessel parameters differ in patients with vascular occlusions and if there are any variations between the different types of vessel occlusion.Methods: Patients with the diagnosis of branch retinal artery obstruction BRAO, central retinal artery obstruction CRAO, branch retinal vein obstruction BRVO, central retinal vein obstruction CRVO, anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy AION and any combination of these Combo were included in our study. During their inpatient stay for cardiovascular diagnostics all patients were examined via static and dynamic vessel analysis (IMEDOS Health GmbH, Jena) to obtain the arteriovenous ratio (AVR), the central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), the central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) and the flicker light induced dilation of the retinal arteries (FLA) and veins (FLV). The vessel density was determined via OCT angiography (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg).Results: 34 patients (70% male; 30% female; mean age 69.6 ± 11.3 years) with 9 (26.5%) CRVO, 8 (23.5%) AION, 5 (14.7%) BRAO and 4 (11.8%) CRAO, BRVO and Combo each have been included. The best visual acuity (BCVA) of the diseased eye differed significantly between the groups (AION 0.41 ± 0.61, CRAO 2.40 ± 0.20, BRAO 0.16 ± 0.05, CRVO 0.81 ± 0.86, BRVO 0.18 ± 0.10, Combo 1.53 ± 0.68; p < 0.001) whereas the BCVA of the healthy eyes were comparable. The CRVE showed a significant difference between the groups CRAO – CRVO (p = 0.008), CRAO – Combo (p < 0.001) and BRAO–Combo (p = 0.026). The FLV of the diseased eye was significantly higher in patients with AION than in the CRAO group (p = 0.049). The parameters of the static vessel analysis of the healthy eyes were comparable.Conclusions: Preliminary analysis shows significant differences of individual parameters of the retinal vessel analysis between different types of vascular occlusion. The diagnostic and research benefit for the individual patient remains to be further evaluated.