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Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Evaluation of Capillary and Other Vessel Contribution to Macular Perfusion Density Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Published on: February 18, 2022
Evaluation of optic nerve head vessels density changes after phacoemulsification cataract surgery using optical
Ze-Hui Zhu1,2,3, Yin-Ying Zhao1,2,3, Rui Zou1,2,3
1Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China.
Aim:
To evaluate optic nerve head (ONH) vessel density (VD) changes after cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods:
This was a prospective observational study. Thirty-four eyes with mild/moderate cataracts were included. ONH scans were obtained before and 3mo after cataract surgery using OCTA. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density, all VD, large VD and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in total disc, inside disc, and different peripapillary sectors were assessed and analyzed. Image quality score (QS), fundus photography grading and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were also collected, and correlation analyses were performed between VD change and these parameters.
Results:
Compared with baseline, both RPC and all VD increased in inside disc area 3mo postoperatively (from 47.5%±5.3% to 50.2%±3.7%, and from 57.87%±4.30% to 60.47%±3.10%, all P<0.001), but no differences were observed in peripapillary area. However, large VD increased from 5.63%±0.77% to 6.47%±0.72% in peripapillary ONH region (P<0.001). RPC decreased in inferior and superior peripapillary ONH parts (P=0.019, <0.001 respectively). There were obvious negative correlations between RPC change and large VD change in inside disc, superior-hemi, and inferior-hemi (r=-0.419, -0.370, and -0.439, P=0.017, 0.044, and 0.015, respectively). No correlations were found between VD change and other parameters including QS change, fundus photography grading, postoperative BCVA, and postoperative peripapillary RNFLT.
Conclusion:
RPC density and all VD in the inside disc ONH region increase 3mo after surgery in patients with mild to moderate cataract. No obvious VD changes are found in peripapillary area postoperatively.
