Diagnostic Ability of Macular Vessel Density in the Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer on Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography for Glaucoma

Unveiling Novel Structural Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Glaucoma

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, poses a significant global health burden. Early detection is crucial for effective management and prevention of vision loss. This study presents a collection of novel structural biomarkers in glaucoma diagnosis. By employing advanced imaging techniques and data analysis algorithms, we now can recognize indicators of glaucomatous progression. Many research studies have revealed a correlation between the structural changes in the eye or brain, particularly in the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer, and the progression of glaucoma. These biomarkers demonstrate value in distinguishing glaucomatous eyes from healthy ones, even in the early stages of the disease. By facilitating timely detection and monitoring, they hold the potential to mitigate vision impairment and improve patient outcomes. This study marks an advancement in the field of glaucoma, offering a promising avenue for enhancing the diagnosis and possible management.

Evaluation of Retinal Neurodegeneration and Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Inactive Graves' Ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE

The study was conducted for the assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and subfoveal choroidal thickness changes in patients with inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) before the development of active GO findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cross-sectional designed study consisted of patients with inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy (study group) and healthy subjects (control group). The thicknesses of the retinal ganglion cell layer, retinal nerve fiber layer, and subfoveal choroid (SFCT) were measured using SS-OCT with deep range imaging technology to compare these parameters between the study and control groups.

RESULT

Patients with inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy had higher values of intraocular pressure but similar best-corrected visual acuity (p = 0.001, p = 0.232, respectively). The retinal nerve fiber layer was thinner only in the superior zone of the study group (p = 0.039), whereas similar values were noted in the temporal, nasal, and inferior areas as well as the average thickness. We did not observe any statistically significant difference in any sector of the ganglion cell layer between the study and control groups. A thicker mean subfoveal choroidal thickness value was measured in patients with inactive Graves' ophthalmopathy than in healthy subjects (p = 0.013) in correlation with a clinical activity score (p = 0.046).

CONCLUSION

SS-OCT showed minimal retinal neurodegenerative alteration and significant choroidal thickening in inactive GO. Thus, SS-OCT might be a beneficial technique to detect retinal neurodegenerative and choroidal changes earlier in the stage of inactive GO before the development of active GO signs, which may affect the time and type of treatment modalities to prevent further ocular or systemic complications. Additionally, SFCT may be a good indicator for assessment of the severity of Graves' disease.

Comparison of Thickness-Function and Vessel Density-Function Relationship in the Superior and Inferior Macula, and in the Superotemporal and Inferotemporal Peripapillary Sectors

PRéCIS:: In primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), unlogged mean macular hemifield visual field sensitivity correlates significantly better with superficial capillary vessel density (VD) than with ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness of the opposite macular hemifield.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the relationship of the spatially corresponding superficial retinal capillary VD and retinal thickness parameters with the corresponding visual field sensitivity, for the superior and inferior macula, and the superotemporal and inferotemporal peripapillary sectors, respectively.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One eye of 27 POAG, 14 ocular hypertensive, and 9 healthy participants were subjected to optical coherence tomography angiography imaging with the Angiovue optical coherence tomography and Octopus G2 perimetry on the same day. Superior and inferior unlogged hemifield average macular sensitivity was correlated with the opposite macular hemifield VD and GCC thickness, respectively. Correlation of visual field cluster unlogged average sensitivity with the spatially corresponding sector VD and sector retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were compared for the superotemporal and inferotemporal peripapillary sector, respectively.

RESULTS

For all participants and the glaucoma population, the correlations for macular hemifield GCC were strong or very strong (r: 0.554 to 0.737, P<0.01). In these groups, the correlations for macular hemifield VD were all very strong (r: 0.823 to 0.838, P<0.0001) and significantly higher than the corresponding correlations for hemifield GCC (P≤0.050). No significant difference between the corresponding correlations was found in the combined normal and ocular hypertensive group for the macular hemifields, or in either population for the peripapillary sectors.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that, in contrast to superotemporal and inferotemporal peripapillary sectors in which the thickness-function and VD-function relationships are similar, in POAG, for the macular hemifields, the VD-function relationship is stronger than the thickness-function relationship.