Progression of Macular Vessel Density in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Longitudinal Study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the rate of progression of macular vessel density (mVD) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and explore the relationship between the progression of mVD and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness and parapapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

In this study, 102 eyes with POAG were followed for 36.6 ± 6.4 months. The rates of progression were estimated by linear models. The agreement of progression detection among the 3 parameters was evaluated with Kappa statistics. The influence of baseline measurements on the rates of progression of mGCIPL thickness, pRNFL thickness, and mVD was investigated by linear mixed modeling. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was adopted to calculate the survival probabilities.

RESULTS

The respective rate of progression by linear regression was -0.102 ± 0.054 μm/month, -0.160 ± 0.086 μm/month, and -0.199 ± 0.073 %/month for mGCIPL thickness, pRNFL thickness, and mVD. The agreement in detection of progression among them was poor with the Conger's Kappa coefficient of 0.098 (95% confidence interval: -0.025~0.220, P = .116). The significant factors influencing the rate of progression of mVD were baseline mGCIPL thickness, baseline pRNFL thickness, and baseline mVD (P ≤ .001), while baseline mVD was not a significant factor influencing the rates of progression of mGCIPL thickness and pRNFL thickness (P ≥ .659). Also, pRNFL thickness had a better survival probability compared with the other 2 parameters (P = .025).

CONCLUSIONS

The mGCIPL thickness, pRNFL thickness, and mVD decreased over time in POAG eyes. The rate of reduction of mVD was significantly influenced by the baseline measurements of mGCIPL thickness, pRNFL thickness, and mVD.