Peripapillary Vascular Parameters Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Uveitic Glaucoma

To assess differences in peripapillary vascular parameters measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) between patients with uveitic glaucoma (UG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and healthy subjects. To determine the relationship among functional and structural parameters in UG.

30 patients with UG, 30 patients with POAG and 30 healthy subjects were recruited. Peripapillary analysis was measured using Angioplex™ OCT-A (Cirrus HD-OCT 5000) with a 4.5 × 4.5 mm optic nerve head (ONH) scan. Global and quadrant data from peripapillary vascular parameters were compared between groups. Correlation between clinical and peripapillary properties was obtained, as well as among vascular and structural parameters.

All vascular perfusion and flow measurements (global and by quadrants) were significantly reduced in UG compared to healthy subjects (all p < 0.030 except for peripapillary perfusion density (pPD) temporal (p = 0.095)).Flow values (overall and by quadrants) and pPD in the inferior sector were lower in POAG (p < 0.023). Among UG, no significant differences were found in OCT-A results between subjects with systemic vs topical treatment, nor between active vs quiescent cases or between purely ophthalmological vs systemic uveitis (all p > 0.09). A positive correlation was obtained between structural and vascular parameters in UG (average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and flow index (FI) (r = 0.632; p < 0.001) and with pPD (r = 0.676; p < 0.001).

A reduction in peripapillary vascular parameters, measured by OCT-A in UG and POAG compared to healthy patients, was observed in this study. POAG cases showed greater reduction in perfusion and FI, especially in the lower sector, compared to UG.