Spatial association of longitudinal vessel density with visual fields

Abstract

Purpose : Visual fields (VF) and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements have a longitudinal association with glaucoma progression. The purpose of this study was to examine if the spatial association of longitudinal sectorial peripapillary vessel density (VD) with VF is comparable with the association of longitudinal RNFL with VF.

Methods : 20 eyes (11 subjects) with glaucoma underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, 24-2 SITA standard VF (Humphrey Field Analyzer 3, Zeiss, Dublin, CA), and Cirrus HD-OCT Angioplex scans (6x6 OCTA ONH cube scan) (Zeiss) in at least two visits. VF sectors were determined by the Garway-Heath map (Garway-Heath, Ophthalmol, 2000). Peripapillary VD and RNFL thickness were obtained with the device’s native software and then calculated by quadrants and compared with corresponding VF sectors. Longitudinal analysis using mixed effects model, with standardized RNFL thickness and VD measurements were used to test for association with corresponding VF sectorial measurements.

Results : Mean age of the study cohort was 59.10±12.38 years, average RNFL 70.65±15.98 mm, VF MD -3.22 [Q1;Q3: -10.36;-2.10] dB, full VD in 6x6 ONH OCTA scan 15.07±3.15 mm/mm². Average follow-up period was 1.33±0.69 years. VD and VF had a significantly stronger association in the superior and inferior sectors than RNFL and VF (Table). However, for nasal and temporal sectors, VF and RNFL had significantly stronger correlation than VF and VD but for both groups the correlation was not significant.

Conclusions : Longitudinal structure-function association is stronger for superior and inferior peripapillary VD and VF than for RNFL thickness and VF. These results are in support of the use of VD to track disease longitudinally. Further studies are required with larger cohort and wider disease severity range.

This is a 2020 Imaging in the Eye Conference abstract.