Differences in swept-source OCT angiography of the macular capillary network in high tension and normal tension...

The purpose of the present study was to determine if swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the superficial plexus in the macular region can detect differences between high-tension open-angle glaucoma (HTG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

In this prospective study 60 eyes from 60 patients (40 HTG; 20 NTG) underwent fovea centred 3 × 3 mm cube macula OCTA imaging by a swept-source OCTA device (Plex Elite, Zeiss, Jena, Germany). Quantitative analysis of the vasculature at the superficial plexus was performed by assessing the Perfusion Density (PD), defined as the total area of perfused vasculature per unit area in a region of measurement, for each group, respectively. Besides, macular ganglion cell layer thickness and mean deviation from visual field testing was assessed and correlated with PD.

Average superficial PD of the measured 3 × 3 mm field was comparable between HTG and NTG (P = .567). In both groups a significant relation of PD and age (HTG: r = -0.48, p = .002; NTG: r = -0.615; p = .004) was shown, indicating reduced PD with increasing age. For both groups a positive correlation between PD and mean deviation (MD) (HTG: r = 0.492, p = .003; NTG: r = 0.530, p = .029) as well as PD and GCL thickness was shown (r = 0.486, p = .002 vs. r = 0.389; p = .09). However, the latter did not reach statistical significance in the NTG group.

PD at the central 3 mm around the fovea is comparable between HTG and NTG. Significant correlation with age and MD was shown in both groups.