Macular Vascular Density Research Articles

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Primary Open-Angle and Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma.

Objectives:To compare the optical disc and macular vascular density values of patients with glaucoma and healthy individuals by using optical coherence tomography angiography and evaluate the relationship between structural and functional test results and vascular density.Materials and Methods:The study included 128 eyes in total: 31 with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG), 55 with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and similar visual field defects, and 42 healthy eyes. Whole image peripapillary vessel density (wpVD), intradisc vessel density (idVD), peripapillary vessel density (pVD), whole image macular vessel density (wmVD), and parafoveal vessel density (pfVD) values were compared between the groups. Correlations between visual field findings, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and optic nerve head measurements and peripapillary and macular vascular density were analyzed.Results:In the PEG and POAG groups, wpVD, idVD, wmVD, and pfVD values were significantly lower in than the control group. In the PEG group, wpVD was found to be significantly lower than the POAG group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the PEG and POAG groups in wmVD and pfVD except for nasal pfVD. There were strong positive correlations between RNFL thickness and pVD in the glaucoma groups (p<0.001). Significant correlations were found between visual field mean deviation and pattern standard deviation values and peripapillary and macular vessel density values in the glaucoma groups.Conclusion:Vascular density values were lower in glaucoma patients compared to normal individuals, and there is a strong correlation between structural and functional tests and vessel density values. The lower vascular density in the PEG group compared to the POAG group indicates that vascular damage may be more common in PEG patients.

Analysis of Microvascular Abnormalities in Obesity: A Comparative Study with Healthy Subjects Using Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography and Adaptive Optics

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze retinal microvasculature in obese subjects as compared to a normal-weight population. Methods: In this case-control observational study, swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and adaptive optics (AO) were performed in eyes of nondiabetic, nonhypertensive, obese patients and in healthy controls. AO was used to calculate the wall-to-lumen ratio (WLR). The foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the macular vessel density, and the macular perfusion density of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses were analyzed in 6 × 6 mm macular OCTA cubes. SS-OCTA was also used to measure the choroidal thickness, the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and the vascular density of the retinal peripapillary capillary plexus. Results: The obese group included 45 eyes (24 patients), and the control group included 46 eyes (23 subjects). The central macular density and perfusion density were significantly lower in obese patients compared to controls, in the deep retinal layer (0.28 [0.01–0.69] vs. 1.24 [0.82–1.66], p = 0.006 and 0.006 [0.001–0.015] vs. 0.025 [0.016–0.034], p = 0.01), respectively, after adjustment for systolic blood pressure. No differences were found in macular vascular density in other areas, FAZ (circularity, area, perimeter), choroidal thickness, RNFL. WLR was increased in obese patients (0.252 [0.246–0.259] vs. 0.239 [0.231–0.245] in controls, p = 0.016). Conclusion: Obesity was associated with retinal microvascular changes regardless of the presence of diabetes and hypertension. Our findings suggest the presence of infraclinical microvascular changes directly associated with obesity, which can be identified noninvasively through retinal imaging.

Assessment of macular findings by OCT angiography in patients without clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy: radiomics features for early screening of diabetic retinopathy

This cross-sectional study aimed to quantitatively analyze the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images using MATLAB-based software and evaluate the initial changes in macular vascular density and the distortion of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), before the clinical appearance of diabetic retinopathy. For this purpose, 21 diabetic patients without any clinical features indicating DR, and 21 healthy individuals matched with patients based on their demographic characteristics were included. Macular thickness, macular vascular density, and morphological changes of FAZ were assessed using OCTA. The diagnostic ability of morphological parameters was evaluated by receiver operating curve analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCC) index was used to check the consistency of the extracted values. There was no significant difference in age, gender, LogMAR visual acuity, spherical equivalent, and intra-ocular pressure amongst patients and controls. No correlation was found between age and the FAZ area as well as vascular density. The vascular structure of the superficial layer showed FAZ enlargement, reduced vascular density in the macular area, and significant deviations of FAZ shape parameters (convexity and Frequency Domain Irregularity) in patients compared with healthy individuals. Measurements were highly correlated between separate imaging sessions with ICCC of over 0.85 for all parameters. The represented data suggests that radiomics parameters can be applied as both an early screening tool and guidance for better follow-up of diabetic patients who have not had any sign of DR in fundoscopic exams.

Evaluation of macular vascular density and foveal avascular zone changes by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) after intravitreal dexamethasone implant in diabetic macular edema resistant to Anti-VEGF treatment.

Analysis of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) width and vascular density (VD) changes before and after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients resistant to anti-VEGF treatment. In this retrospective study, patients who were regularly treated with at least 5 doses of intravitreal Anti-VEGF (bevacizumab, ranibizumab or aflibercept) for DME and whose DME continued were considered resistant to Anti-VEGF and were treated with IDI for the first time. Thirty-four eyes of 34 patients were included in the study. FAZ and VD values of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) scans at 0, 1 and 3months were examined. In OCT-A measurements, the pre-IDI superficial plexus FAZ (SFAZ) area (0.350 ± 0.120 mm2) was decreased at 1 (0.292 ± 0.132 mm2, p < 0.001) and at 3months (0.311 ± 0.153 mm2, p = 0.017). Pre-IDI deep plexus FAZ (DFAZ) area (0.651 ± 0.313 mm2) was decreased at 1-month post-IDI (0.481 ± 0.247 mm2, p < 0.001) while no significant change was observed at 3months (0.575 ± 0.259 mm2, p = 0.197). There was no significant change in the mean post-IDI total VD rate in both superficial (pre 39.2% ± 2.4; 1st month 39.2% ± 2.6%; 3rd month 39.5% ± 3.4%) and deep retinal plexus (pre 43.3% ± 2.6%; 1st month 43.5 ± 2.8%; 3rd month 43.6% ± 4.6%) (p = 0.408 and p = 0.607, respectively). The study showed that IDI caused a significant decrease in the FAZ area without any change in VD in patients with DME resistant to the anti-VEGF agents. IDI might be related to a decrease in the macular ischemia secondary to diabetic retinopathy.

Peripapillary and Macular Vascular Density in Patients With Preperimetric and Early Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.

Decreased circumpapillary vascular density (cpVD) and average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness were detected at different locations in eyes with preperimetric glaucoma (PPG). Although RNFL loss was more prominent in preperimetric eyes, in early glaucoma, both cpVD and RNFL thickness showed comparable diagnostic ability. To evaluate changes in circumpapillary and macular vascular density and investigate correlations between vascular and structural parameters in PPG and early glaucoma. This cross-sectional study included a total of 27 patients with PPG in 1 eye and early primary open angle glaucoma in the fellow eye, as well as a control group consisting of 27 eyes of 27 healthy volunteers. All subjects underwent optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging. RNFL and macular ganglion cell complex measurements were obtained simultaneously with vascular parameters by AngioVue OCTA using the single-scan protocol. cpVD was examined in 8 sectors. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In preperimetric eyes, average RNFL thickness and whole-image vessel density had comparable diagnostic performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve =0.853 and 0.753, respectively). Compared with the control group, PPG eyes had significantly lower RNFL thickness in all quadrants (P<0.001-0.003) except for the temporal quadrant, whereas cpVD differed only in the nasal inferior and nasal superior sectors (P=0.001 and 0.041, respectively). In early glaucoma eyes, cpVD differed significantly from controls in all sectors except for the inferotemporal, temporal inferior, and temporal superior sectors, whereas perifoveal macular vascular parameters differed in all quadrants (all P<0.05). cpVD was strongly correlated with RNFL thickness in the superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants (r=0.664, 0.698, and 0.649, respectively, P<0.001) and moderately correlated in the inferior quadrant (r=0.450, P<0.001). Although RNFL involvement is valuable in the diagnosis and follow-up of PPG, the change in nasal cpVD has an important place in these patients. The role of macular vascular parameters and macular ganglion cell complex in glaucoma follow-up becomes important in early glaucoma. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the place of OCTA in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma.

Normative Data and Determinants of Macular, Disc, and Peripapillary Vascular Density in Healthy Myopic Children Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

ObjectiveTo establish a normative database for the vascular density (VD) in macular, disc, and peripapillary regions in healthy myopic children and to evaluate associated ocular features with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsThis was an observational, prospective and cross-sectional study. 776 Chinese healthy myopic children (375 boys and 401 girls) were enrolled, mean (±SD) age 9.84 ± 1.98 (range 6–16) years. En-face angiogram OCTA was performed on 6 mm × 6 mm retinal and 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm disc regions. VD measurements in the macular retina were segmented into the four regions: superficial capillary plexus (SCP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choriocapillaris (CC). Correlations between macular, disc, and peripapillary VD and possible influencing factors [age, gender, axial length (AL), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), right/left eye, and signal strength index (SSI)] were assessed by Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression analysis.ResultsFor macular scans, the corrected VD in the ICP region was (48.25 ± 4.24)% for the whole macular retina. The macular ICP VD in most sections was lower than the SCP, DCP, and CC (all P < 0.001). The corrected VD in CC was (72.96 ± 4.42)% for the whole macular retina. The macular CC VD in every section was all higher than the SCP, ICP, and DCP (all P < 0.001). The size of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and foveal VD 300 (FD-300) was 0.28 mm2± 0.10 mm2 and (58.43 ± 4.17)% respectively. For disc scans, the corrected VD was (58.04 ± 2.73)% for the whole disc area. Both AL and SER were strongly correlated with ICP, DCP, and CC VD in all regions (all P < 0.01). Larger SSI was correlated with a lower VD in the SCP and ICP, and a higher VD in DCP and CC (all P < 0.01).ConclusionVascular density values provide large scale normative data on macular, disc, and peripapillary vascular parameters in a large sample of healthy myopic children with OCTA measured in the four different retinal plexuses and regions. The VD in different regions had various influencing factors; mainly a close correlation with AL and SSI.

Comparative Study of Macular Vascular Density and Retinal Thickness in Myopia Children with Different Microscope Diopters Based on OCTA.

In order to study the vascular density and retinal thickness of myopic children, a depth study was carried out on the basis of OCTA microscope. Through the methods of prospective cross-sectional research, statistical analysis, and basic data comparison, the research examination of myopia children under OCTA was successfully analyzed. There were significant differences in the density of superficial capillaries in the whole macular region, inner ring, temporal side of inner ring, and nasal side (P = 0.033, 0.024, 0.018, 0.032), and there was no significant difference in other ranges (P > 0.05). Macular fovea, as the most sensitive part of the retina, has pathological changes, which will also lead to serious negative effects on vision. The limitations of cross-sectional studies include the results of a relatively small sample size. After the study of OCTA in the macular region of children with myopia, it is related to the progressive atrophy of the retina and choroid in the macular region. When there are obvious pathological changes in the macular region, the thickness of the macular region becomes significantly thinner. We found that there was a positive correlation between retinal vascular density and retinal thickness in the fovea and above of myopia. The retinal thickness of the whole macular region, the inner ring and its four quadrants, and the outer ring and its four quadrants were positively correlated with SE (standard error) (all P < 0.05); Foveal ring retinal thickness was not associated with SE.

Assessment of the Retinal Vessels in Keratoconus: An OCT Angiography Study.

This study investigated vascular density and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in patients with keratoconus (KC). Participants with KC and healthy controls were included and underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), keratometry, anterior segment OCT, and macular OCT-A examinations. Of the 70 subjects (mean age 42.9 ± 15.31 years), 79 KC and 47 healthy eyes were included. Significant reductions in the KC group were recorded for the FAZ area, with a mean (±SD) of 0.19 ± 0.12 vs. 0.25 ± 0.09 mm2 p < 0.001. Central vascular density in KC patients was lower compared with the controls: 6.78 ± 4.74 vs. 8.44 ± 3.33 mm−1 p = 0.049; the inner density was also decreased in the study group (13.64 ± 5.13 vs. 16.54 ± 2.89 mm−1, p = 0.002), along with the outer density (14.71 ± 4.12 vs. 16.88 ± 2.42 mm−1, p = 0.004) and full density (14.25 ± 4.30 vs. 16.57 ± 2.48) p = 0.003. Furthermore, BCVA was positively correlated with central vascular density (R = 0.42 p = 0.004, total R = 0.40, p = 0.006) and inner density (R = 0.44, p = 0.002) in patients with KC but not in controls. Additionally, we found a correlation between K2 and inner vascular density (R = −0.30, p = 0.043) and central epithelium thickness and outer density (R = 0.03, p = 0.046). KC patients had lower macular vascular density and a smaller FAZ than healthy participants. The BCVA in KC patients was correlated with the vascular density.

Optic Nerve Head and Macular Vascular Density Changes in Different Stage Glaucoma

Optic Nerve Head and Macular Vascular Density Changes in Different Stage Glaucoma

Observation of microstructure and vessel density changes in the superficial retinal layer in buried optic disc drusen patients

Objective: To investigate the changes of the microstructure and vascular density in the superficial retinal layer of buried optic disc drusen (ODD) patients. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. A total of 36 ODD eyes (20 patients) and 26 normal control eyes were recruited in Beijing Union Medical College Hospital from January 2018 to July 2020. Measurement of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit lamp, fundus examination and visual field examination were performed. The images and data of spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were analyzed and summarized. The differences of nasal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and macular superficial vascular density (VD) between ODD patients and normal controls were compared by independent sample t-test or Mann Whitney U test (the right eye was selected in bilateral ODD patients). Results: The 20 ODD patients and 26 normal controls were all female. There was no significant difference in age between the two groups (P>0.05). The BCVA and visual field examination was normal in all ODD patients. The SD-OCT examination showed an oval low signal shadow under the nasal outer nuclear layer of the optic disc, or local accumulation like a medium signal shadow with a clear boundary, and a high signal capsule in ODD patients. The RNFL in the upper nasal side of the ODD group was significantly different from the normal control group [(102.6±19.1) μm vs. (119.0±13.8) μm; t=-2.81; P<0.01]. Compared with normal control group [101.0 (100.0, 102.0) μm], the average GCC thickness in the ODD group [97.0 (89.3, 99.8) μm] was significantly different (U=48.50; P<0.01). The OCTA en-face scan showed that the vascular network in the macular area of the affected eyes was sparser than that of the control eyes. There was significant difference in superficial macular VD beteeen the ODD group (48.5%±2.8%) and the control group (51.0%±2.3%) (t=-2.63; P<0.05). Conclusions: There is thinning in the RNFL upper nasal side and GCC layer of the macular region in buried ODD patients, and the superficial VD of the macular region in buried ODD patients is lower than that in the normal controls.

Macular vascular density and visual function after phacoemulsification in cataract patients with non-pathological high myopia: a prospective observational cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate changes in macular vascular density and macular function in patients with high myopia cataract (HMC) after phacoemulsification surgery, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Patients with cataracts scheduled for phacoemulsification surgery were divided into a high myopia group (axial length > 26.5mm) and a control group (22mm < axiallength ≤ 24.5mm). OCTA examinations were performed before surgery and at 1day, 1week, 1month, and 3-6months post-surgery, while mfERG was conducted before surgery and at 3-6months post-surgery. A total of 38 patients were included, of whom 20 were HMC patients and 18 were control patients. The macular vascular density significantly increased after phacoemulsification surgery in both groups, while foveal avascular zone area decreased significantly (HMC group: all p < 0.01; control group: all p < 0.05). Mean changes in macular vascular density were significantly greater in HMC patients than in the control group at 1day after surgery (all p < 0.05). The amplitude density and latency of P1 wave in all macular rings (Ring1-5) did not differ significantly before or after surgery in either group (all p > 0.1). Phacoemulsification may not affect HMC patients' macular mfERG responses within 3-6months post-surgery, but it may influence macular microcirculation. HMC patients should be closely monitored after surgery, as their retinal vascular density may fluctuate substantially in the early postoperative period.

Longitudinal evaluation of retinal thickness and OCTA parameters before and following silicone oil removal in eyes with macula-on and macula-off retinal detachments.

To investigate the longitudinal retinal vascular and structural alterations by using OCTA following successful repair of retinal detachment (RD) by using silicone oil (SO) endotamponade. A prospective cohort study was performed on 24 eyes of 24 subjects; 17 of them with macula-off and seven with macula-on RD. At least four OCTA scans were generated for each study eye; two before and two after SO removal (SOR). At each session, retinal thickness (RT), vascular density (VD) in the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexuses (DCP) and foveal avascular zone(FAZ) size were measured within the fovea, parafovea and whole macular image. The changes in repeated measures of the same parameters especially before and after SOR were performed and compared within macula-on and macula-off groups and between fellow eyes. "In the macula-off eyes, RT measurements within the whole macula, fovea and parafovea reduced as compared with their fellow eyes(p < 0.0001, p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively) and did not improve after SOR. Additionally, all of the whole macular, foveal, and parafoveal VD measurements at SCP and foveal VD at DCP were less than their fellow eyes after SOR (p = 0.026, p = 0.023 p = 0.026, and p = 0.002, respectively). In macula-on eyes, RT measurements decreased within the parafovea and whole macular area before SOR (p = 0.018 and p = 0.011, respectively) but improved after SOR. Also, VD measurements did not change during follow-up and were not statistically different than their fellow eyes (p > 0.05). FAZ enlargement was found in eyes with macular-off RD after SOR, whereas it was not observed with macular-on RD (p = 0.038and p = 0.237, respectively). Treatment of macula-off RD with SO tamponade has been associated with vascular retinal abnormalities which did not improve following SOR. On the contrary, successful treatment of RD with SO tamponade in macula-on eyes VD measurements of SCP and DCP were not statistically different than their fellow eyes.

Retinal nerve fiber layer and optical coherence tomography angiography analysis in fibromyalgia using logistic regression

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) and the vascular density (VD) at the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) of the retina of patients with Fibromyalgia (FM) using Optical coherence tomography‐Angiography (OCT‐A) and to compare results with measurements of healthy eyes.MethodsFifty eyes of 50 patients with FM were included and compared with 232 healthy eyes. All subjects underwent peripapillary and macular RNFL thickness evaluation and macular SVP VD assessment using swept source OCT Triton and its OCTA module (Topcon, Japan). Both groups were compared, and the statistically significant different variables were used to create a logistic regression model. A Linear Discriminant Function (LDF) and its receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was obtained from the model.ResultsStatistically significant thinning was found at the peripapillary (temporal, p = 0.006; and supero‐temporal, p = 0.026) and macular (inferior, p = 0.029) RNFL thickness in the FM group compared to healthy controls. The best resultant LDF after logistic regression analysis was (Triton: −9.102 + (0.434 * RNFL macular inferior) + (0.088 * peripapillary RNFL nasal sector) – (0.220 * peripapillary RNFL temporal sector) showing a ROC curve with an area under curve (AUC) equal to 0.758. On the other hand, the SVP VD obtained with OCT‐A showed no statistically significant differences between groups in any of the analyzed areas (central p = 0.788; nasal p = 0.165; inferior p = 0.073; temporal p = 0.250; superior p = 0.538) so the data were not included in the regression analysisConclusionsFM patients present a reduction in the RNFL thickness compared to controls. The RNFL measurements might be a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of FM, complementing the current criteria based on clinical symptoms. However, it is necessary to explore the different imaging protocols to include them into a more robust statistical model.

Macular Morphologic and Microvascular Analysis in Pseudophakic Children with Previous Pediatric Cataract Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Introduction: The macular morphologic and microvascular changes in children with pseudophakia after pediatric cataract surgery remain unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze macular morphologic and microvascular remodeling in children with pseudophakia after pediatric cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: Consecutive cases between December 1, 2018, and November 31, 2020 were recruited. Sixty-one participants (31 pseudophakic children and 30 healthy controls) met the inclusion criteria and were included for final analysis. OCTA was used to measure macular vascular density, the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and macular thickness. The parameters were compared between pseudophakic and healthy eyes using binary logistic regression, with adjustment for the effect of refractive error, age, and axial length. Results: Compared with normal eyes, a significantly reduced area of the FAZ (p = 0.042), increased superficial foveal vascular density (p = 0.033), and increased inner and outer foveal thickness (p = 0.034 and 0.029, respectively) were noted in pseudophakic eyes. The deep parafoveal vascular density was generally lower in eyes with cataracts (p ≤ 0.044). The inner foveal thickness was positively correlated with the superficial foveal vascular density (r = 0.889, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the area of the FAZ (r = −0.903, p < 0.001). The outer foveal thickness was positively correlated with the deep foveal vascular density (r = 0.399, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Morphological and microvascular remodeling in children with previous pediatric cataract indicates foveal underdevelopment. The underlying mechanism requires further investigation.

CHANGES IN RETINAL MICROCIRCULATION AFTER RHEGMATOGENOUS MACULA-ON AMD MACULA-OFF RETINAL DETACHMENT ACCORDING TO OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Introduction. The aim of the study is to evaluate changes in the vascular density and microcirculation of various retinal layers following successful repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment without macular area detachment and with macular area detachment using optical coherence tomography angiography and their impact on postoperative clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 33 eyes were included in this prospective consecutive observational study: 15 without macular area detachment affected by without macular area detachment and 18 by rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with macular area detachment. All patients were diagnosed as having primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (duration of retinal detachment less than 7 days since the onset) and underwent successful surgical treatment within 72 hours after diagnosis. Superficial, deep capillary plexus, and foveal avascular zone area variations were evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography and correlated with visual acuity during a one-month follow-up. Results: In the without macular area detachment group, the preoperative vascular density of the whole superficial capillary plexus on affected eyes was lower than that of the fellow eyes (p &lt; 0.05). The whole superficial capillary plexus vascular density and the parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vascular density increased during the follow-up period (p &lt; 0.05); moreover, the higher the preoperative whole superficial capillary plexus and parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vascular density, the better the baseline visual acuity (p &lt; 0.05) was. In the macular-on area detachment group, at the first months after surgery, the larger the foveal avascular zone, the lower the visual acuity was (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions. Consequently, optical coherence tomography angiography is a non-invasive investigation method that enables to assess retinal microcirculation in patients who have undergone surgical treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. The use of optical coherence tomography angiography offers a potential explanation for the suboptimal restoration of visual acuity despite anatomical restoration of the macula. In the macula-on group, the preoperative vascular density of the entire superficial capillary plexus affected the preoperative visual acuity and was lower than in healthy eyes, but recovered over time. Without macular area detachment superficial capillary plexus vascular density affected preoperative visual acuity, and it was lower than the fellow eye, but recovered over time. In the with macular area detachment group, a larger foveal avascular area was related to a worse visual acuity.

Mapping of choriocapillaris vascular density in young and aged healthy subjects.

To compare macular vascular density (VD) of the choriocapillaris (CC) between young and aged healthy individuals. A cross-sectional study was performed enrolling young and senior healthy individuals of Caucasian race and an axial length (AL) lower than 26 mm, and without systemic or ophthalmological diseases. CC VD was imaged with DRI Triton OCTA using a 6 × 6 mm macular analysis. Internal software delimited CC boundaries and gave colour pictures, which were analysed and codified into numbers, and a grid of 30 × 30 VD values was obtained. Two-dimension (2D) and three-dimension (3D) representations were created. 53 eyes of 53 young healthy individuals and 30 eyes of 30 senior healthy individuals were enrolled. Mean age was 27.17 ± 3.90 years, and 67.00 ± 7.41 years, respectively (p < 0.001). There were no differences in intraocular pressure (IOP) or AL (23.73 ± 0.79 mm, 23.18 ± 0.80 mm, respectively, p = 0.24). There were differences in foveal VD and in temporal perifoveal macula, but not in nasal perifoveal macula. Foveal VD was the highest in both groups. Foveal CC VD has been found to be considerably high with this method, and it is the area which most decreases with age. Nasal perifoveal VD is not reduced in older individuals. These outcomes are opposite to other studies using different methods but they are in line with previous histological findings.

High myopia and macular vascular density: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

ObjectiveTo investigate whether there are differences inmacular vascular density (VD) between patients with high-myopia (HM) and those with non-high myopia (NHM) using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).MethodOCTA was performed on 35 eyes with HM with spherical equivalence (SE) > − 6.00D and 35 eyes with NHM with SE ≤ -6.00D. Vascular densities of the macula (overall macula, fovea, parafovea, superior hemi and inferior hemi) were measured in each of the superficial, deep and choriocapillaris layers of the retina.ResultsIn the superficial retinal layer, overall macular VFD was significantly higher in the NHM compared to the HM group (51.27 ± 3.74 vs. 48.07 ± 5.69, p < 0.05). There were significant differences between the NHM and HM in parafovea (52.58 ± 5.78 vs. 49.4 ± 6.43, p < 0.05), superior-hemi (53.38 ± 4.03 vs 49.78 ± 6.84, p < 0.05) and inferior-hemi regions (53.49 ± 4.61 vs 49.05 ± 6.41, p < 0.05), but not in the fovea region. Similarly, in the deep retinal layer, overall macular VFD was significantly higher in the NHM group compared to the HM group (58.69 ± 2.46 vs. 56.90 ± 4.08, p < 0.05). There was significant differences between the HM and NHM in superior-hemi region (61.97 ± 2.68 vs. 60.08 ± 3.98, p < 0.05), but not in the fovea, parafovea, and inferior-hemi region. In the choriocapillaris, there was no difference in the overall macular VFD, nor any of the individual sectors between the HM and the NHM groups.ConclusionVFD in the superficial and deep retinal layers of the macula are significantly increased in the NHM compared to HM eyes. This is not the case in the choroidal capillary layers of the retina.

Combined wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography density map for high myopic glaucoma detection

The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of wide-field optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) density map for detection of glaucomatous damage in high myopic (HM) eyes and to further compare the diagnostic ability of OCTA with that of conventional imaging approaches including red-free photography and swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) wide-field maps. A total of 77 healthy HM eyes and 72 HM eyes with open angle glaucoma (OAG) participated in this retrospective observational study. Patients underwent a comprehensive ocular examination, including wide-field SS-OCT scan and peripapillary area and macular OCTA scans. An integrated OCTA density map thereafter was merged by vascular landmark-guided superimposition of peripapillary and macular superficial vascular density maps onto the red-free photography (resulting in the OCTA-PanoMap). Glaucoma specialists then determined the presence of glaucomatous damage in HM eyes by reading the OCTA-PanoMap and compared its sensitivity and specificity with those of conventional images. Sensitivity and specificity of OCTA-PanoMap for HM-OAG diagnosis was 94.4% and 96.1%, respectively. Compared with other imaging methods, the sensitivity of OCTA-PanoMap was significantly higher than that of red-free photography (P = 0.022) and comparable to that of wide-field SS-OCT maps. Specificity of OCTA-PanoMap was significantly higher than those of other conventional imaging methods (except for wide-field thickness map). The OCTA-PanoMap showed good diagnostic ability for discrimination of HM-OAG eyes from healthy HM eyes. As a complementary method of an alternative imaging modality, OCTA-PanoMap can be a useful tool for detection of HM-OAG.

Comparison of peripapillary and macular vascular density in primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and normal control eyes

PurposeTo compare the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) of the macula, and optic disc in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), and normal eyes. MethodsIn this observational, cross-sectional study, Sixty–five eyes with POAG, 61 eyes of age, and mean deviation (MD) from standard automated perimetry matched PXG patients, and 45 normal control eyes underwent OCT-A using AngioVue, and optic disc-associated vessel density (VD), macular-associated VD, Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ perimeter (PERIM), and vessel density within a 300 μm wide region of the FAZ (FD) were compared between groups. ResultsPeripapillary OCT-A parameters were significantly different among normal, and glaucomatous eyes with the highest values in the control eyes, but none of the peripapillary OCT-A parameters except inside disc VD was statistically significantly different between the PXG eyes, and POAG eyes. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and peripapillary VD in control (r = 0.427, P = 0.006), PXG (r = 0.82, P<0.001), and POAG (r = 0.79, P<0.001) eyes.PXG eyes exhibited significantly lower superficial, and deep macular vessel densities in parafoveal and perifoveal regions compared with POAG eyes after adjustment (p<= 0.05). Overall, moderate /severe PXG eyes had lower superficial, and deep vessel densities in parafoveal and perifoveal regions compared to mild PXG. ConclusionPeripapillary VD (inside disc), and macular vessel densities (parafovea and perifovea) demonstrate a significant difference in age and glaucoma severity-matched POAG and PXG eyes. Moderate/advance glaucomatous eyes, exhibit significant damage to the superficial and deep macular vascular structures.

Microvascular and Structural Alterations of the Macula in Early to Moderate Glaucoma: An Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography Study.

In glaucoma, macular optical coherence tomography (OCT) typically shows a thinning of the three inner segments and OCT-angiography (OCTA) a reduction of the vascular density (VD). It is still unclear if glaucoma directly affects macular VD. This retrospective study included 31 glaucoma patients of early and moderate stage (GS1, GS2, Mills et al.) and 39 healthy individuals. Macular segments’ thickness and superficial and deep plexus vascular density (VD) were obtained using spectral-domain OCT and OCTA, respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare healthy controls and glaucoma patients according to their glaucoma stage. Using correlation analyses, the association between glaucoma and either OCT or OCTA parameters was evaluated. A glaucoma stage-stratified linear regression analysis was then performed. Inner macular segment and whole retinal thickness were reduced in GS1 and GS2 patients compared to healthy controls (e.g., ganglion cell layer GCL: controls: 47.9 ± 7.4, GS1: 45.8 ± 5.1, GS2: 30.6 ± 9.4, ANOVA: p < 0.0001). Regarding OCTA-parameters, the VD of both segmentation levels was reduced in glaucoma patients, particularly when comparing GS2 patients with controls (superficial plexus: p = 0.004) and GS2 with GS1 (p = 0.0008). Linear regression revealed an association between these parameters and the presence of glaucoma (for superior plexus: R2 = 0.059, p = 0.043). Finally, a correlation between macular segment thickness and VD was observed, but with a strength increasing with glaucoma severity (GCL and superior plexus VD: controls: R2 = 0.23, GS1 R2 = 0.40, GS2 R2 = 0.76). Despite the glaucoma-independent correlation between macular segment thickness and VD, disease severity strengthens this correlation. This consideration suggests that glaucoma directly influences OCT and OCTA parameters individually.