Factors Associated With Lamina Cribrosa Microvasculature Determined Through Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma research
• Optical coherence tomography angiography

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• The lamina cribrosa (LC) plays a crucial role in optic nerve head (ONH) structure and function.
• Microvascular changes in the LC are implicated in glaucoma pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors associated with lamina cribrosa vessel density (LCVD) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
• To determine the relationship between LCVD, lamina cribrosa curvature index (LCCI), and visual field mean deviation (VF MD).

Main Methods:

• Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) was used to obtain ONH scans.
• LCVD was calculated from segmented LC layers.
• Lamina cribrosa curvature index (LCCI) was assessed from B-scan images.
• POAG eyes were categorized into mild-to-moderate and advanced disease groups based on VF MD.

Main Results:

• POAG eyes exhibited significantly lower LCVD and greater LCCI compared to healthy eyes.
• In POAG, reduced LCVD was associated with worse VF MD, thinner RNFL and GIPL, and greater LCCI.
• LCVD was associated with VF MD and LCCI in advanced POAG.
• A positive correlation between LCVD and LCCI was observed in healthy eyes.

Conclusions:

• Reduced LCVD is associated with increased LCCI and posterior LC deformation across all stages of POAG.
• LC deformation may contribute to ONH microvasculature alterations in glaucoma.