Free Papers

Quantitative analysis of microvascular alterations following an acute intraocular pressure reduction: an OCT angiography study

Free Paper Details

First Author: D.Bektaşoğlu TURKEY

Co Author(s):    D. Bektasoglu   N. Alagoz                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the acute quantitative changes of microvascular alterations in the macular and peripapillary region by optic coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) following intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medical treatment in eyes presenting with an IOP of 30 mm Hg or more.

Setting:

University of Health Sciences, Beyoglu Eye Training and Research Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul, Turkey

Methods:

Eighteen eyes of 16 patients who presented with high IOP and received medical treatment to acutely lower the IOP were included in this study. Patients with angle-closure glaucoma, uveitic glaucoma, or glaucoma associated with any retinal vascular pathology were excluded. OCTA parameters of the macula and peripapillary region before and one hour after IOP-lowering treatment were evaluated for each eye. Macular vessel density (VD), macular perfusion density (PD), and peripapillary PD of the outer zone were recorded for both time points by Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 with Angioplex.

Results:

The mean age of the patients was 56.1±9.3 years and the average RNFL was 77.2±23.0 µm. The mean IOP before and after treatment was 34.8±6.3 mmHg and 18.0±5.1 mmHg, respectively (P<0.001). Baseline macular VD and macular PD values were 15.13% and 36.81% and both measurements were found to increase significantly after IOP-lowering treatment (16.39% and 40.14%, respectively) (P=0.023, P=0.023). Although the mean peripapillary PD of the outer zone was found also to increase in post-treatment measurements, there was no statistical difference compared to baseline (P=0.569)

Conclusions:

OCTA-based analysis following IOP-lowering medical treatment demonstrated improved microvascular parameters in the macula, while the same improvement could not be observed in the peripapillary region.

Financial Disclosure:

-