The correlation of radial peripapillary capillary density measurements with optic nerve head morphology and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in healthy eyes.

Abstract

To investigate the association between radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPC) density and optic nerve head morphology in healthy eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). One hundred twenty-seven eyes of 64 volunteers were included in the study. The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters were measured using Cirrus 5000 HD OCT with Angioplex angiography. RPC perfusion and flux index were assessed using the 4.5 × 4.5 mm scan acquisition protocole. SPSS 25.0 version for Windows was used for statistical analysis. There was a significant positively correlation between the mean overall RPC perfusion and FI the mean average RNFL thickness (r = 0.417, p < 0.001 and r = 0.239, p = 0.007, respectively). The mean rim area was significantly positively correlated with the mean overall RPC perfusion and FI (r = 0.308 p < 0.001 and r = 0.233 p = 0.008, respectively). There was a significant negatively correlation between cup volume and the mean overall FI (r = - 0.218 p = 0.01). Our study shows that not only RNFL thickness, but the density of RPCs network may also be associated with ONH parameters. OCTA analysis may be a useful method to clarify these associations quantitatively.