Evaluation of the radial peripapillary capillary density in unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion and the unaffected fellow eyes

Abstract

Background: Given that unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and glaucoma share common systemic vascular risk factors, the fellow eyes of patients with BRVO may be at increased risk of glaucoma. Objectives: To analyze the radial peripapillary capillary density (RPCD) in eyes with unilateral BRVO and their unaffected fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Design: Cross-sectional, prospective study. Methods: The study included 120 eyes of 80 patients: 40 affected eyes of BRVO, 40 fellow eyes of BRVO, and 40 control eyes. The RPCD, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) were analyzed using OCTA. Results: RPCDs in the whole image, peripapillary region, all the hemispheres, and quadrants were statistically lower in the affected eyes than in both the fellow and control eyes ( p < 0.05 for all). RPCD values in the whole image and the peripapillary region were significantly lower in the fellow eyes than in the control eyes ( p = 0.013, and p = 0.021, respectively). RNFLTs in the peripapillary region, inferior hemisphere and inferior quadrant were significantly lower in the affected eyes than in the control eyes ( p < 0.05 for all). No significant differences were detected between the fellow eyes and the control eyes in term of RNFLT values in any regions ( p > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Lower RPCD values despite similar RNFLT values were observed in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral BRVO compared with healthy controls. These results may indicate the shared vascular mechanisms and risk factors that account for the development of BRVO and glaucoma.

Longitudinal changes in peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion

“…RVO is a prevalent retinal vascular disease with serious implications for vision [ 17 ] . There is a longstanding recognition of the association of RVO with glaucoma [ 9 - 11 , 18 ] . Some have suggested that this is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship but rather a reflection of underlying systemic vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, HTN, and DM [ 18 ] .…”

“…There is a longstanding recognition of the association of RVO with glaucoma [ 9 - 11 , 18 ] . Some have suggested that this is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship but rather a reflection of underlying systemic vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, HTN, and DM [ 18 ] . We documented medically controlled HTN and type 2 DM in 63.3% and 23.3% of the patients with unilateral BRVO, respectively.…”

Evaluation of Central and Peripheral Retinal Vascular Changes in the Fellow Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Retinal Vein Occlusions

“… 10 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 Additionally, a limited number of angiographic studies were done to reveal retinal or choroidal vascular changes in the fellow eye using UWFFA in BRVO patients, adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope fluorescein angiography in CRVO patients, and OCTA in RVO patients. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 However there is no study evaluating both peripheral and central subtle vascular changes in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients at the same time. Therefore, this study aimed to search for possible blood-eye barrier disruption and subtle peripheral and central retinal vascular changes affecting the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients using laser flare photometry, UWFFA, and OCTA.…”

Evaluation of optic disc and macular vascularity changes in CRVO using optical coherence tomography angiography

“…10 Another distinct advantage of OCTA over FFA is its ability to image the radial peripapillary capillary network (RPC), 7 which is poorly viewed on FFA, and showed a reduction in the fellow eye of CRVO 11 and branch retinal vein occlusion. 12 Measurement of RPC vascular density would be necessary in cases with severe cystoid macular edema observed in many cases of CRVO, which may result in segmentation errors giving inaccurate measurements of macular VD. 13 This study aims to identify the changes in peripapillary and macular vasculature using OCTA in cases of CRVO, correlate these changes with visual acuity, and detect the agreement of these changes with macular ischemia observed by FFA.…”

“…Another distinct advantage of OCTA over FFA is its ability to image the radial peripapillary capillary network (RPC), 7 which is poorly viewed on FFA, and showed a reduction in the fellow eye of CRVO 11 and branch retinal vein occlusion. 12…”