The Assessment of Radial Peripapillary Capillary Vessel Density in Adult Children of Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Précis: The observed decrease in radial peripapillary capillary vessel density among adult children of individuals with primary open-angle glaucoma, in comparison to controls, suggests the possibility of early microvascular alterations in the eyes of these at-risk individuals. Purpose: To compare the radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPCVD) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness values of eyes between healthy adults with a maternal or paternal history of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG. Methods: RPCVD values and RNFL thicknesses in the peripapillary region and 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) were evaluated using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) among 30 adult children of patients with POAG and 30 age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG. Results: The mean whole image RPCVD (51.6±1.7% vs. 49.8±1.7%, P=0.0006) and average RPCD (54.7±1.7% vs. 53.2±2.1%, P=0.006) values were significantly lower in the adult children of patients with POAG compared to age-matched healthy controls without a family history of POAG. There was no difference in terms of RNFL thickness values in any region. Conclusion: Despite having similar RNFL thickness values to the control group, the observation of lower RPCVD in the eyes of adult children of POAG patients may indicate potential early vascular alterations. The result of the present study encourages further longitudinal studies to determine the potential importance of the underlying vascular alterations in these high-risk individuals.