Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Non-Invasive Visualization of Nailbed Microvascular Morphology in Mice Using Capillaroscopy
Published on: February 28, 2025
Nailfold capillaroscopy assessment in patients with glaucoma with a current optic disc hemorrhage
Hussain Y Patel1, Yvonne M Buys1, Graham E Trope2
1Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
Objective:
To determine whether there is an increased prevalence of nailfold hemorrhages in patients with glaucoma with a current optic disc hemorrhage (ODH) compared with those without a history of ODH.
Design:
Prospective observational study.
Participants:
Group 1 (n = 40) consisted of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or normal tension glaucoma (POAG/NTG) with a current ODH who met the specified inclusion/exclusion criteria. Group 2 (n = 20) consisted of age- and sex-matched patients with glaucoma without a history of ODH who met specified criteria (control group).
Methods:
This study was performed in a clinical practice setting. Nailfold capillaroscopy was performed in each participant to determine the presence of nailfold hemorrhages and other capillary morphologic changes.
Results:
There was no significant difference in mean age (68 ± 10 years for Group 1 vs 71 ± 12 years for Group 2; p = 0.20) or sex (62% female in Group 1 vs 59% female in Group 2; p = 0.80) between the groups. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with nailfold hemorrhage(s) between Group 1 (23%, 10/42) and Group 2 (26%, 11/42; p = 0.8). Subanalysis of Group 1 identified no significant difference in the prevalence of nailfold hemorrhages between patients with POAG (23%, 6/26) and NTG (25%, 4/16; p = 0.9).
Conclusions:
We report no increase in nailfold haemorrhages in patients with glaucoma with a current ODH compared with patients with glaucoma without a history of ODH. However, the prevalence of nailfold hemorrhages in patients with glaucoma either with or without an ODH is significantly greater than that identified in normal (nonglaucoma) control subjects in other studies.
