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Factors associated with macular vessel density measured by optical coherence tomography angiography in healthy and glaucomatous eyes

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate factors associated with macular vessel density and to analyze their effects according to glaucoma stage.

Study design

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

A total of 72 healthy eyes and 147 open-angle glaucomatous eyes were studied. All eyes underwent optical coherence tomography and visual field examinations. Clinical variables were compared according to the glaucoma stage. Relationships between macular vessel density (mVD) and other variables were analyzed using linear regression and segmented analyses.

Results

Age (P = 0.010) and signal strength (P < 0.001) were associated with macular vessel density in healthy eyes. In glaucomatous eyes, age, signal strength, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and mean deviation (MD) correlated with macular vessel density (all P ≤ 0.005). When analyzed by glaucoma stage, age correlated with macular vessel density in early (P = 0.017 and all P ≤ 0.012, respectively) and moderate (P = 0.002 and all P ≤ 0.001, respectively) glaucoma. Conversely, GCIPL thickness was associated with macular vessel density (P = 0.004). According to segmented analysis between MD and mVD, the MD value at the change point for mVD was −17.92 dB, which was much lower than that for GCIPL thickness (−5.83 dB).

Conclusion

Signal strength was the most significant factor associated with macular vessel density in healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Other than signal strength, factors associated with macular vessel density of glaucomatous eyes vary according to the glaucoma stage. The segmented analysis suggests that mVD could be better than GCIPL thickness in predicting MD changes in moderate-to-advanced glaucoma.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (no. NRF-2019R1F1A1061795). The funding organization played no role in the design or conduct of the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, The Institute of Vision Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea

    Kwanghyun Lee, Eun Woo Kim, Joo Yeon Kim, Heon Yang, Wungrak Choi, Sang Yeop Lee, Gong Je Seong, Chan Yun Kim & Hyoung Won Bae

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Maryknoll Hospital, Busan, South Korea

    Chan Keum Park

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Myung-Gok Eye Research Institute, Kim’s Eye Hospital, Konyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea

    Eun Woo Kim

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Kwanghyun Lee

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  1. Kwanghyun Lee
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Administrative, technical, or material support: LSY, SGJ, KCY, BHW. Supervision: LK, BHW.

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Correspondence to Hyoung Won Bae.

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Corresponding Author: Hyoung Won Bae

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Lee, K., Park, C.K., Kim, E.W. et al. Factors associated with macular vessel density measured by optical coherence tomography angiography in healthy and glaucomatous eyes. Jpn J Ophthalmol 64, 524–532 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00757-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-020-00757-w

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