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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Evaluation of Capillary and Other Vessel Contribution to Macular Perfusion Density Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: February 18, 2022
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF EXERCISE ON OPTIC NERVE AND MACULAR PERFUSION MEASURED BY OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY
Maged Alnawaiseh1, Larissa Lahme, Maximilian Treder
1*Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, Muenster, Germany; and †Department of Ophthalmology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Purpose:
To evaluate the effects of exercise on optic nerve and macular perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography.
Methods:
Thirteen eyes of 13 healthy volunteers were examined using a high-speed and high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography XR Avanti with a split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography algorithm. Blood pressure, heart rate, the mean area of the foveal avascular zone , and flow density on the optic nerve head and macula, before and after exercise were measured and analyzed.
Results:
Mean patient age was 27.3 ± 3.5 years. Heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly after exercise (P < 0.001). The mean area of the foveal avascular zone did not change significantly after exercise (before: 0.27 ± 0.07 mm; after: 0.26 ± 0.07 mm; P = 0.10). The peripapillary and the parafoveal flow density decreased significantly after exercise (peripapillary: before: 65.1 ± 2.1; after: 62.3 ± 3.0; P < 0.001 and parafoveal: before: 56.7 ± 1.3; after: 55.6 ± 1.5; P = 0.007).
Conclusion:
Increased physical activity induced significant changes in optic nerve and macular perfusion, which were measured using split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography optical coherence tomography angiography. In studies that aim to evaluate optic nerve and macular perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography, it should be strongly recommended that patients rest before imaging is performed and that data concerning systemic circulation including blood pressure and pulse is included within the evaluation.
