Longitudinal Structure-Function Relationship between Macular Vessel Density and Thickness and Central Visual Field in...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by visual field (VF) loss.
• Early detection and monitoring of glaucoma progression are crucial for timely intervention.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) provide quantitative measures of retinal structure and vasculature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal relationship between changes in macular vessel density (VD) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and central visual field (VF) sensitivity in early glaucoma.
• To compare the structure-function (SF) correlations of VD and GCC with VF changes over time.

Main Methods:

• An observational cohort study included 95 eyes with preperimetric or early glaucoma.
• Longitudinal changes in macular VD (OCTA) and GCC thickness (OCT) were measured over an average of 3.8 years.
• Age-adjusted rates of change for VD, GCC, and VF sensitivity were calculated using linear mixed-effect models.

Main Results:

• Both vessel density loss and GCC thinning showed significant correlations with central VF damage.
• The structure-function correlation between whole-image VD and 10-2 VF mean deviation (MD) change rates was stronger (r=0.42) than that between whole-image GCC and 10-2 VF MD change rates (r=0.27).
• Rates of VD loss were significantly faster than GCC thinning.

Conclusions:

• Longitudinal rates of macular vessel density loss and GCC thinning are associated with progressive central visual field loss in early glaucoma.
• Assessing both macular vessel density and GCC thickness is recommended for comprehensive evaluation of glaucoma progression.
• These findings highlight the utility of OCT and OCTA in monitoring glaucoma.