Study of the retina macular region microvascular bed parameters in healthy people of the older age group according to optical coherence tomography with angiography function

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To date, there is insufficient data on normal blood flow indicators in the retinal choroid plexuses in healthy people of the older age group. AIM: To create a normative basis for average indicators of vessel density in the superficial and deep plexuses of the retina, parameters of the foveal avascular zone and retinal thickness in the macular region in healthy people of the older age group according to optical coherence tomography with angiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The retrospective study included 73 people (146 eyes) aged from 58 to 79 years with preserved visual functions and somatic parameters corresponding to the age norm. Optical coherence tomography with angiography function analyzed the density of vessels in the superficial and deep retinal plexuses, the area and perimeter of the foveal avascular zone, the density of vessels in the area up to 300 μm from the foveal avascular zone, and the thickness of the retina. Statistical processing of the data was performed in MS Office Excel 2016. The data was presented in the format M±σ, where M was the average value of the indicator, σ was the standard deviation. RESULTS: In the study group, the overall average retinal thickness in the macular area was 279.9±14.8 µm. The overall average density of vessels of the superficial retinal plexus in the macular zone of the retina was 48.7±2.5%. The overall average density of vessels in the deep retinal plexus in the macular area was 51.9±3.7%. The area of the foveal avascular zone in healthy people was on average 0.322±0.123 mm2; the density of vessels within 300 µm from the foveal avascular zone was 53.8±3.3%. CONCLUSION: The age-related physiological norm for blood flow indicators in the retinal choroid plexuses in healthy people of the older age group has been established.