Progressive Vessel Density Reduction on OCT Angiography in Glaucoma Eyes with Disc Hemorrhages.

PURPOSE

To identify longitudinal changes in peripapillary and parafoveal vessel density (VD) measured by OCT angiography (OCTA) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes with disc hemorrhages (DHs).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study conducted from August 2016 through August 2020

PARTICIPANTS

Eighteen Asian-Indian participants with POAG (18 eyes) who sought treatment at the clinic with a single DH in the peripapillary region were recruited consecutively.

METHODS

The study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center. All participants who were recruited underwent a baseline OCT and OCTA, which were repeated every 4 to 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Peripapillary VD and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, parafoveal VD and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in the DH sector, and the corresponding mirror-image sector across the horizontal meridian (control) were evaluated over time using linear mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

The baseline average RNFL thickness was 79 ± 9 μm. Mean duration of follow-up was 2.6 ± 0.7 years. In the DH sector, all VD and structural parameters showed a significant negative slope (P 0.05), but the rate of change of the peripapillary and parafoveal VDs were significant (P < 0.01). The rate of change of peripapillary VD was greater in the DH sector compared with the non-DH sector (-2.86 ± 0.6%/year vs. -1.71 ± 0.7%/year; P < 0.01). However, the parafoveal VD slopes did not differ significantly between DH and control sectors (-2.9 ± 0.17%/year vs. -2.8 ± 0.8%/year; P = 0.51).

CONCLUSIONS

Eyes with POAG harboring a DH showed not only progressive RNFL and GCIPL loss in the DH sector, but also progressive peripapillary and parafoveal VD reduction in the DH and non-DH regions as documented on OCTA.