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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Retinal Vascular Reactivity as Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: March 26, 2020
Retinal microvasculature impairments in patients with coronary artery disease: An optical coherence tomography
Pingting Zhong1,2, Zhixi Li3, Yingwen Lin2,4
1Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
Insights
Reduced retinal microvasculature, specifically in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses, is linked to coronary artery disease (CAD). Lower vessel density in the deep capillary plexus also correlates with CAD severity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
- Non-invasive imaging techniques are crucial for early detection and risk assessment of CAD.
- Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) offers high-resolution visualization of retinal microvasculature.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between retinal microvasculature and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
- To utilize optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for detailed assessment of retinal microvascular changes.
- To explore the correlation between specific retinal microvascular parameters and CAD severity evaluated by the Gensini score.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 410 participants (270 with CAD, 140 controls) was conducted.
- Retinal microvasculature was assessed using OCTA, measuring vessel density (VD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP), as well as retinal nerve fibre thickness.
- Coronary artery obstructive lesions severity was quantified using the Gensini score.
Main Results:
- Lower VD in both SCP and DCP was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of having CAD.
- Specifically, reduced parafoveal and perifoveal SCP VD, and mean, parafoveal, and perifoveal DCP VD showed increased odds of CAD.
- Among CAD patients, lower DCP vessel density (mean, parafoveal, and perifoveal) was significantly correlated with higher Gensini scores, indicating greater CAD severity.
Conclusions:
- Retinal microvasculature, particularly the superficial and deep capillary plexuses, is associated with the presence of CAD.
- The deep capillary plexus's vessel density is specifically linked to the severity of coronary artery stenosis in CAD patients.
- OCTA-derived retinal microvascular parameters may serve as potential biomarkers for assessing CAD presence and severity.
Purpose:
To investigate the association between retinal microvasculature and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods:
The cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, China. Retinal microvasculature parameters were measured by OCTA of the optic disc, including the vessel density (VD) and retinal nerve fibre thickness of the radial peripapillary capillary. In terms of the entire macula, VD of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and foveal density (FD-300) were included. The Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of coronary artery obstructive lesions in CAD patients.
Results:
A total of 410 participants (270 CAD patients and 140 controls) were included. Overall, participants showed significantly greater odds of having CAD in the lower versus higher VD for mean SCP, OR = 2.33 (95% CI 1.49-3.65); in the parafoveal SCP, OR = 2.68 (95% CI 1.70-4.23); and in the perifoveal SCP, OR = 2.36 (95% CI 1.49-3.72). Additionally, participants showed significantly greater odds of having CAD in the lower versus higher VD for mean DCP, OR = 4.04 (95% CI 2.53-6.45); in the parafoveal DCP, OR = 4.08 (95% CI 2.54-6.55); and in the perifoveal DCP, OR = 3.88 (95% CI 2.43-6.19). Among CAD patients, lower VD of DCP was associated with significantly greater adjusted Gensini scores (p = 0.004 for mean DCP; p = 0.035 for parafoveal DCP; p = 0.006 for perifoveal DCP).
Conclusions:
SCP and DCP were found to be associated with the presence of CAD among the whole population, while DCP was found to be associated with Gensini scores in CAD patients. Retinal microvasculature was associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery stenosis in CAD patients.
