Optic nerve head diurnal vessel density variations in glaucoma and ocular hypertension measured by optical coherence tomography angiography.
Verticchio Vercellin Alice C, Harris Alon, Tanga Lucia, Siesky Brent, Quaranta Luciano, Rowe Lucas W, Torabi Rana, Agnifili Luca, Riva Ivano, Oddone Francesco
AI Summary
This study found optic nerve head vessel density variations throughout the day were small in healthy, OHT, and glaucoma patients, suggesting OCT-A can be performed anytime clinically.
Abstract
Background/aims: To evaluate diurnal variations in optic nerve head (ONH) vessel density assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in healthy subjects, ocular hypertension (OHT), and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients.
Methods
Forty subjects (OAG, 21; OHT, 6; healthy, 13) were assessed for vessel density percentage (VD%) and flow index in the ONH (NH VD%, NH index), and in the radial peripapillary capillary layer (RPC VD%, RPC index) at 9:00, 11:00, 14:00, 16:00, and 18:00 on a single day. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to test for changes in the parameters measured at multiple time points.
Results
All OCT-A parameters analyzed at the different time points were statistically lower in the OAG patients compared to both the OHT and healthy groups (p < 0.05). In the OAG group, the NH index, RPC index, NH VD%, and RPC VD% were statistically lower at 18:00 compared to 14:00, and the RPC VD% was statistically lower at 9:00 than 14:00. In the OHT group, the RPC index was statistically lower at 9:00 than 11:00. In the healthy group, the NH VD% and RPC VD% were statistically lower at 16:00 than 18:00, and the RPC index was statistically lower at 9:00 than 11:00. No other statistically significant difference was found in none of the three groups comparing any other time point (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
In healthy subjects, OHT and OAG patients, the variations in the OCT-A derived parameters were relatively small. These results suggest that in the clinical practice the OCT-A assessment can be performed independently of the time of the day, contrasting IOP evaluation.
MeSH Terms
Shields Classification
Key Concepts5
All OCT-A parameters (NH index, RPC index, NH VD%, and RPC VD%) analyzed at different time points were statistically lower in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients compared to both ocular hypertension (OHT) and healthy groups (p < 0.05).
In open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients, the optic nerve head (ONH) vessel density parameters (NH index, RPC index, NH VD%, and RPC VD%) were statistically lower at 18:00 compared to 14:00, and the RPC VD% was statistically lower at 9:00 than 14:00.
In ocular hypertension (OHT) patients, the radial peripapillary capillary layer (RPC) index was statistically lower at 9:00 than 11:00.
In healthy subjects, the optic nerve head (ONH) vessel density (NH VD%) and radial peripapillary capillary layer (RPC VD%) were statistically lower at 16:00 than 18:00, and the RPC index was statistically lower at 9:00 than 11:00.
The variations in the OCT-A derived parameters in healthy subjects, ocular hypertension (OHT) patients, and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients were relatively small, suggesting that OCT-A assessment can be performed independently of the time of the day, contrasting IOP evaluation.
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