Macular Thickness and Microvasculature Loss in Glaucoma Suspect Eyes.

PURPOSE

To characterize the change of ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and macular vessel density in glaucoma suspect eyes with ocular hypertension (OHT) or glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON).

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal study.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight-three eyes (24 healthy, 30 OHT, and 29 GON) of 65 patients who underwent at least 3 visits were included from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. The mean follow-up was at least 3 years.

METHODS

OCT angiography (OCTA)-based vessel density and OCT-based structural thickness of the 3 × 3-mmGCC scan slab were evaluated at each visit. The rates of vessel density and thickness change were compared across diagnostic groups using a linear mixed-effects model.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Change rates of macula GCC thickness and superficial vessel density.

RESULTS

Significant mean rates of both GCC thinning and vessel density loss were detectable in OHT and GON groups. Of the individual suspect eyes, 49.1% showed significant loss (P 0.2). Higher mean intraocular pressure during follow-up was associated with faster GCC thinning in the OHT group (P = 0.065) and GON groups (P = 0.015), but was not associated with the rate of vessel density decrease.

CONCLUSIONS

Whereas the rate of GCC thinning was faster on average in suspect eyes than in healthy eyes, some suspect eyes showed significant loss of vessel density and faster vessel density loss than GCC thinning. OCT and OCTA are complementary and useful for evaluating eyes with OHT or GON.