Choroidal thickness is lower in open angle glaucoma patients compared to healthy controls assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography

Abstract

Purpose : To investigate differences in choroidal thickness (CT) between open angle glaucoma (OAG) patients and healthy controls assessed with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods : In a prospective cross-sectional analysis, 31 subjects (24 healthy and 7 patients with OAG) underwent OCTA (Optovue) assessment of retinal capillary vascular densities, retinal ganglion cell count (GCC), and subfoveal CT. CT was assessed using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) and a defined anatomical landmark protocol, CT was assessed perpendicularly from the outer edge of the hyper-reflective retinal pigment epithelium to the inner sclera at the fovea. Comparisons between OAG and healthy subjects outcomes were adjusted for sex, race, BMI level, age, diabetes and high blood pressure / hypertension, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results : CT was significantly lower in OAG patients (131.0 (36.8)) compared to healthy controls (271.3 (80.6); p=0.002) overall and in subjects without diabetes (125.2 (36.7) and 279.7 (78.3), p=0.001).

Conclusions : In this cohort of OAG patients, CT was significantly reduced compared to healthy controls, overall and in subjects without diabetes.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.