Peripapillary Vascular Density Differentiates Glaucomatous Cupping From Physiological Cupping Using Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Distinguishing between physiological and glaucomatous optic disc cupping is crucial for early diagnosis.
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) offers high-resolution imaging of retinal microvasculature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic capability of radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density (RPC VD) in differentiating physiological from glaucomatous optic disc cupping.
• To assess RPC VD using OCTA in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, physiological cupping, and normal controls.

Main Methods:

• An observational study included 98 eyes from 98 patients: 30 with primary open-angle glaucoma, 28 with physiological cupping, and 40 normal controls.
• Ophthalmological examination, structural OCT, and OCTA of the optic disc were performed for all participants.
• Radial peripapillary capillaries vessel density (RPC VD) was quantified and analyzed in relation to optic disc parameters.

Main Results:

• Glaucomatous eyes showed significantly lower RPC VD compared to both physiological cupping and normal eyes (P <0.001).
• No significant difference in RPC VD was found between eyes with physiological cupping and normal eyes (P =0.559).
• Moderate negative correlations were observed between cup-to-disc ratios and RPC VD in glaucomatous eyes.

Conclusions:

• Reduced RPC VD is a characteristic finding in glaucoma, even in the presence of physiological cupping.
• OCTA measurement of RPC VD shows potential as a biomarker to differentiate glaucomatous from physiological cupping.
• This technique may aid in the early detection and management of glaucoma.