Macular microvascular parameters in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer derived by optical coherence tomography...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by vision loss.
• Assessing macular microcirculation and visual field function is crucial for glaucoma management.
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) offers detailed insights into retinal vasculature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between macular vascular microcirculation parameters and visual field sensitivity in glaucoma.
• To correlate global and sectoral optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings with standard automated perimetry (SAP) results.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-four eyes with open-angle glaucoma underwent swept-source OCTA (Plex Elite 9000).
• Macular vascular microcirculation was quantified by calculating flux and vessel area density (VAD) in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL).
• Central 10-degree visual field (VF) central mean sensitivity (CMS) was assessed using 24-2 VF testing; Pearson correlation analyzed relationships.

Main Results:

• Both global GCIPL flux and VAD significantly correlated with VF CMS (p<0.001).
• Sectoral VAD showed significant correlation with sectoral VF CMS across most sectors (p<0.097).
• Highest correlations were found between specific sectoral VAD and VF CMS, though not always significantly different from global VAD correlations.

Conclusions:

• Global and sectoral macular vascular microcirculation in the GCIPL, measured by OCTA, significantly correlates with VF CMS in glaucoma patients.
• OCTA is a valuable tool for understanding structure-function relationships in the macula for glaucoma assessment.
• These findings support OCTA's role in evaluating glaucomatous changes in the macular region.