Correlation between the radial peripapillary capillaries and the retinal nerve fibre layer in the normal human retina

Yu, Paula K.; Cringle, Stephen J.; Yu, Dao‐Yi

doi:10.1016/j.exer.2014.10.020

Cited by 116 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Those results agreed with histologic studies performed by Yu's group. 3,9,12 Those authors found that in human donor eyes the RPC density decreased significantly with increasing distance from the optic disc edge, 3 that the RPC density was significantly higher in the arcuate regions (superior temporal [ST] and inferior temporal [IT]) than in the other quadrants, and that the RPC volume generally was correlated positively with the RNFL thickness. 3 In the current study, we measured the RNFL thickness in healthy living eyes using the ONH program and found that the RNFL thickness and RPC density along a circle with a diameter of 3.45 mm centered on the optic disc had bimodal peaks at the ST and IT sectors (Figs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 The pathogenesis of glaucoma and most retinal vascular diseases may be related closely to this network, because several functional and structural changes represented by a Bjerrum scotoma, cottonwool spots, and frame-shaped retinal hemorrhages match the distribution of this network. 2,3 Because understanding the features of the RPC network is important, histopathologic studies of the RPC in rhesus monkeys, cats, and human donor eyes have been performed. [1][2][3] However, evaluation of the RPC in living human eyes is limited even if using conventional fluorescein angiography.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,3 Because understanding the features of the RPC network is important, histopathologic studies of the RPC in rhesus monkeys, cats, and human donor eyes have been performed. [1][2][3] However, evaluation of the RPC in living human eyes is limited even if using conventional fluorescein angiography.…”

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Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network Visualized Using Wide-Field Montage Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Mase

Ishibazawa

Nagaoka

et al. 2016

Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.

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PURPOSE. We quantitatively analyzed the features of a radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network visualized using wide-field montage optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography in healthy human eyes.METHODS. Twenty eyes of 20 healthy subjects were recruited. En face 3 3 3-mm OCT angiograms of multiple locations in the posterior pole were acquired using the RTVue XR Avanti, and wide-field montage images of the RPC were created. To evaluate the RPC density, the montage images were binarized and skeletonized. The correlation between the RPC density and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by an OCT circle scan was investigated.RESULTS. The RPC at the temporal retina was detected as far as 7.6 6 0.7 mm from the edge of the optic disc but not around the perifoveal area within 0.9 6 0.1 mm of the fovea. Capillaryfree zones beside the first branches of the arterioles were significantly (P < 0.0001) narrower than those beside the second ones. The RPC densities at 0.5, 2.5, and 5 mm from the optic disc edge were 13.6 6 0.8, 11.9 6 0.9, and 10.4 6 0.9 mm À1 . The RPC density also was correlated significantly (r ¼ 0.64, P < 0.0001) with the RNFL thickness, with the greatest density in the inferotemporal region. CONCLUSIONS.Montage OCT angiograms can visualize expansion of the RPC network. The RPC is present in the superficial peripapillary retina in proportion to the RNFL thickness, supporting the idea that the RPC may be the vascular network primarily responsible for RNFL nourishment.Keywords: radial peripapillary capillary, optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography T he radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network is a unique vascular plexus in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL); the capillaries run along relatively long straight paths and are limited to the posterior pole where they seem to be associated highly with the superficial nerve fibers. 1 The pathogenesis of glaucoma and most retinal vascular diseases may be related closely to this network, because several functional and structural changes represented by a Bjerrum scotoma, cottonwool spots, and frame-shaped retinal hemorrhages match the distribution of this network.2,3 Because understanding the features of the RPC network is important, histopathologic studies of the RPC in rhesus monkeys, cats, and human donor eyes have been performed. 1-3 However, evaluation of the RPC in living human eyes is limited even if using conventional fluorescein angiography.Recently, several optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) methods have been developed and are gaining in popularity for three-dimensional noninvasive chorioretinal vascular imaging. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] En face OCTA technology enables layerby-layer evaluation of the chorioretinal vascular structures, allowing the RPC network to be visualized separately. 6 Using en face OCTA with application of the split-spectrum amplitudedecorrelation angiography algorithm, Spaide et al. 6 clearly showed wide-field montage images of the RPC network in the hum...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network Visualized Using Wide-Field Montage Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Mase

Ishibazawa

Nagaoka

et al. 2016

Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.

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“…The skeleton was dilated to approximately 15 μm in diameter in order to create a mask (Fig 3D). This 15-μm diameter capillary mask was chosen based on previous histological studies that have sized RPCs at about 9 μm in diameter [2, 26] and our previous work that OCTA overestimates the diameter of vessels by approximately 6 μm [23]. Signal was defined as the region within the dilated skeleton mask, whereas background was defined as the inverse of the mask (Fig 3E and 3F).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visualization of Radial Peripapillary Capillaries Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: The Effect of Image Averaging

Phillips

Krawitz

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

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ObjectivesTo assess the effect of image registration and averaging on the visualization and quantification of the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).MethodsTwenty-two healthy controls were imaged with a commercial OCTA system (AngioVue, Optovue, Inc.). Ten 10x10° scans of the optic disc were obtained, and the most superficial layer (50-μm slab extending from the inner limiting membrane) was extracted for analysis. Rigid registration was achieved using ImageJ, and averaging of each 2 to 10 frames was performed in five ~2x2° regions of interest (ROI) located 1° from the optic disc margin. The ROI were automatically skeletonized. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), number of endpoints and mean capillary length from the skeleton, capillary density, and mean intercapillary distance (ICD) were measured for the reference and each averaged ROI. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess statistical significance. Three patients with primary open angle glaucoma were also imaged to compare RPC density to controls.ResultsQualitatively, vessels appeared smoother and closer to histologic descriptions with increasing number of averaged frames. Quantitatively, number of endpoints decreased by 51%, and SNR, mean capillary length, capillary density, and ICD increased by 44%, 91%, 11%, and 4.5% from single frame to 10-frame averaged, respectively. The 10-frame averaged images from the glaucomatous eyes revealed decreased density correlating to visual field defects and retinal nerve fiber layer thinning.ConclusionsOCTA image registration and averaging is a viable and accessible method to enhance the visualization of RPCs, with significant improvements in image quality and RPC quantitative parameters. With this technique, we will be able to non-invasively and reliably study RPC involvement in diseases such as glaucoma.

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“…By analyzing the human retina and optic structure, Yu et al [27] found that RPC and RNFL thickness are closely linked and the RPC density and RNFL thickness were highest at the superotemporal and inferotemporal quadrants. Our research reported that the vessel density and RNFL thickness in superior and inferior sectors were the highest, consistent with previous studies [28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reliability of Vessel Density Measurements in the Peripapillary Retina and Correlation with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Healthy Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

She

Guo

et al. 2018

Ophthalmologica

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Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of vessel density measurements in the peripapillary retina using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and to analyze the correlation with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy subjects. Method: Thirty-five healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. The optic disc region was scanned three times with spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) and split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography by two skilled examiners. Vessel density of the peripapillary retina was automatically calculated by the software RTVue-XR (version 2015.1.1.98). The RNFL thickness on the optic nerve head was measured by SD-OCT. The coefficient of variation (CV), coefficient of repeatability, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for intraobserver repeatability. The Bland-Altman analysis was used to determine interobserver reproducibility. Correlations between peripapillary retinal vessel density and RNFL thickness were analyzed using a multivariable linear regression. Results: The mean age of the volunteers was 47.0 ± 29.7 years. The intraobserver repeatability in different sectors of the peripapillary retina was good with a high coefficient of repeatability, low CV (< 0.2%), and high ICC (0.847–0.952). The interobserver reproducibility was also good in different sectors, but should be interpreted with caution due to the difference bias caused by different observers in some quadrants. There was a significant positive correlation between vessel density and RNFL thickness; optic disc rim area and disc area were negatively related to vessel density (p = 0.008 and p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Vessel density measurements showed good repeatability and reproducibility by OCT-A in the peripapillary retina, the vessel density was positively related to RNFL thickness and negatively related to optic disc area and rim area.

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Correlation between the radial peripapillary capillaries and the retinal nerve fibre layer in the normal human retina

Cited by 116 publications

References 23 publications

Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network Visualized Using Wide-Field Montage Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Radial Peripapillary Capillary Network Visualized Using Wide-Field Montage Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Visualization of Radial Peripapillary Capillaries Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: The Effect of Image Averaging

Reliability of Vessel Density Measurements in the Peripapillary Retina and Correlation with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Healthy Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

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