Discriminatory Power of Superficial Vessel Density and Prelaminar Vascular Flow Index in Eyes With Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension and Normal Eyes.

PURPOSE

We evaluate the ability of optical coherence tomography angiography parameters, such as the peripapillary vessel density of the superficial retina and prelaminar flow index of the optic disc (PLFI), to differentiate primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OH) from normal eyes.

METHODS

The vessel density, PLFI, mean deviation of the visual field, circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpNFLT), and global loss volume of the ganglion cell complex were evaluated in one eye of 105 subjects with POAG and OH and normal eyes. The discriminatory powers of these parameters were evaluated based on the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operation characteristic curve and multiple comparisons.

RESULTS

The vessel density (P < 0.001) and PLFI/unit area (PLFI/UA; P = 0.020) in eyes with POAG were significantly less than in normal eyes. The vessel density in eyes with OH was significantly (P = 0.018) reduced, whereas the PLFI/UA, global loss volume and cpNFLT were unaffected. The AUCs of the vessel density to discriminate glaucoma and OH from normal eyes were 0.832 and 0.724, respectively, and were significantly better than the PLFI/UA, in which the AUCs were 0.662 (P = 0.002) and 0.569 (P = 0.038), respectively. The powers of the vessel density and PLFI/UA to discriminate POAG from normal eyes were inferior to the global loss volume (P = 0.006 and <0.0001) and cpNFLT (P = 0.055 and P < 0.0001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The vessel density and PLFI/UA decreased significantly in glaucomatous eyes. The vessel density was more efficient than the PLFI/UA for differentiating glaucoma and OH from normal eyes.