Measurement of retinal and optic nerve head blood flow in glaucomatous individuals compared to normal individuals: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Abstract

Study aim Identifing quantitative differences in retinal and optic nerve head blood flow detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography in moderately to severely affected glaucoma eyes of primary open angle type versus normal individuals. Patients and methods Comparative noninterventional observational prospective research has been performed on 28 eyes (16 individuals). Participants went through examination and imaging protocols. Data were collected during the period from January 2020 to May 2020. The study population was split into two cohorts: the first cohort included 14 eyes of nine individuals who suffered from glaucoma of open-angle type (moderately to severely affected), and the second cohort included 14 eyes of seven normal sex-matching and age-matching individuals. Results We documented a reduction in the vessel density of both the optic nerve head area (P<0.001) and superficial retinal areas in glaucomatous eyes (P<0.001), and this reduction shows statistical significance. Conclusion Quantitative OCT angiography analysis proved affection of both peripapillary and macular vessel density in glaucoma of open-angle type, signifying the OCT angiography role in understanding the disease’s underlying etiology.