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Clinical science
Regional vascular density–visual field sensitivity relationship in glaucoma according to disease severity
  1. Joong Won Shin1,
  2. Jiyun Lee2,
  3. Junki Kwon2,
  4. Jaewan Choi3,
  5. Michael S Kook2
  1. 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-gu, Republic of Korea
  2. 2 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  3. 3 Glaucoma Service, Central Seoul Eye Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  1. Correspondence to Dr Michael S Kook, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea; mskook{at}amc.seoul.kr

Abstract

Aims To study whether there are global and regional relationships between peripapillary vascular density (pVD) assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and visual field (VF) mean sensitivity at different glaucoma stages.

Methods Microvascular images and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thicknesses were obtained using a Cirrus OCT-A device in 91 glaucoma subjects. The pVD was measured at various spatial locations according to the Garway-Heath map, using a MATLAB software (The MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts). VF mean sensitivity (VFMS) was recorded in the 1/L scale. Global and regional vasculature–function (pVD vs VFMS) relationships were assessed in separate patient groups at mild and moderate-to-advanced stages of glaucoma.

Results The pVDs at superotemporal and inferotemporal regions were significantly associated with corresponding VFMS in mild glaucoma (p<0.05). In moderate-to-advanced glaucoma, there were significant associations between pVD and VFMS, regardless of location. The association between global pVD and VFMS was significantly stronger than that between global pRNFL thickness and VFMS in moderate-to-advanced stage glaucoma (p <0.05).

Conclusion Global and regional pVD measured by OCT-A was significantly associated with corresponding VFMS in moderate-to-advanced glaucoma. OCT-A may be useful in monitoring glaucoma at various stages.

  • optical coherence tomography angiography
  • vascular density
  • vascular-functional relationship
  • advanced glaucoma

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310180

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors JWS designed the conception of the work, analysed data, and drafted and revised the paper. JL monitored the acquisition of data. JK monitored the acquisition of data, and analysed data. JC designed the conception of the work and monitored the acquisition of data. MSK designed the conception of the work, monitored the acquisition of data, analysed data, and drafted and revised the paper.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Ethics approval The institutional review board of the Asan Medical Center.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.