Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026
Author Spotlight: Ex Vivo OCT-Based Multimodal Imaging of Human Donor Eyes for Research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Published on: May 26, 2023
3D analysis of age-related compensation of retinal capillary plexuses in normal population via wide-field volume-mode
Xindi Liu1, Nianjia Wang2, Meizhu Wang1
1Zhejiang University, Eye Center of Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, China. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology. Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases. Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Institute on Eye Diseases, China.
Purpose:
To explore the age-related compensatory features of retinal capillary plexuses (RCP) in normal people, with emphasis on the role of interlayer connecting branches.
Methods:
Wide-field volume-mode swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) B-scans of 3 × 3 mm and 12×12 mm of 60 healthy eyes were collected. Pearson correlation analyzed blood flow indices including blood volume (BV), vessel surface area (VSA), and vessel density (VD); 3D volume rendering observed interlayer connecting branches.
Results:
1. Blood flow compensation: 3 × 3 mm macular BV and VSA showed no correlation with age; BV and VSA in the 12×12 mm area decreased with age. Only the macular VD of the intermediate capillary plexus (ICP) dropped significantly, with a correlation coefficient twice that of the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). 2. Interlayer branches: Three types were identified: small, vertical ones (prevalent in young people) and two types of large, oblique ones (prominent in the elderly). With age, total branch number decreased, more markedly in vertical ones; oblique ones became dominant, accompanied by reduced small vessels (most marked in ICP) and thickened large vessels (most prominent in DCP).
Conclusion:
Normal RCP has an age-related compensatory mechanism: "sacrificing peripheral blood flow to protect macular blood flow". This compensation is supported by interlayer branch changes: vertical branches decrease while oblique branches become relatively dominant. It maintains macular blood flow and central vision, helping distinguish normal aging from pathological vascular damage.
