Retinal Vascular Density Using Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography in Optic Neuritis.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuro-ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory condition affecting the optic nerve.
• Understanding the vascular changes associated with ON is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) allows for non-invasive visualization of retinal vasculature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify perifoveolar and peripapillary vascular density (VD) in eyes with optic neuritis (ON) and their fellow eyes.
• To compare VD in ON and fellow eyes to that of healthy control eyes.
• To investigate the relationship between VD and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 22 patients with unilateral ON and 20 healthy controls.
• Optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) was performed at least 6 months post-ON episode.
• Vascular density was calculated for superficial, deep, and peripapillary capillary plexuses in peripapillary and perifoveolar regions.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in peripapillary vascular density (VD) was observed in both ON eyes and fellow eyes compared to healthy controls.
• Perifoveolar superficial capillary plexus VD was reduced in ON eyes across all sectors and in the upper sector of fellow eyes.
• Vascular density showed a correlation with ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in both ON and fellow eyes.

Conclusions:

• Unilateral optic neuritis leads to decreased peripapillary vascular density in both affected and fellow eyes.
• These findings suggest a potential subclinical involvement of the disease in the fellow eye.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and clinical significance of these vascular alterations.