Citation: Kumar RS, Anegondi N, Chandapura RS, et al. Discriminant function of optical coherence tomography angiography to determine disease severity in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016;57:6079-6088. DOI:10.1167/iovs.16-19984 PURPOSE. To determine the discriminant function of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) by disease severity in glaucoma.METHODS. In this prospective, observational cross-sectional study, all subjects underwent visual fields, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements, and OCTA imaging. Local fractal analysis was applied to OCTA images (radial peripapillary capillaries [RPC] layer). Vessel density en face and inside the disc and spacing between large and small vessels were quantified. Stepwise logistic regression was performed and a glaucoma severity score (range, 0-1: 0, normal; 1, severe glaucoma) was developed by using global and regional (superotemporal [ST], inferotemporal [IT], temporal, superonasal [SN], inferonasal, and nasal) vascular parameters. Glaucoma severity score was compared with visual field and RNFL indices.
RESULTS.One hundred ninety-nine eyes (112 subjects) with glaucoma (28 eyes preperimetric; 83 early, 43 moderate, and 45 severe glaucoma) and 74 normal (54 subjects) eyes were enrolled. Preperimetric and glaucomatous eyes had significantly altered (P < 0.001) global vascular parameters as compared to normal; regionally, ST, then SN and IT sectors (in that order) showed more change in glaucomatous eyes. Vascular parameters showed better discriminant ability (area under the curve [AUC], sensitivity, and specificity of 0.70, 69.2%, and 72.9%, respectively) than structural parameters between normal and preperimetric glaucomatous eyes. Vascular parameters had comparable AUC (P > 0.05) to visual fields for perimetric glaucoma. Glaucoma severity score identified preperimetric glaucoma and early glaucoma better than did visual fields.CONCLUSIONS. Vascular parameters could be a useful adjunct tool to evaluate/diagnose glaucoma. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine their use in early detection and prognostication.Keywords: optical coherence tomography, glaucoma, visual field, angiography G laucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.1,2 It is characterized by progressive degeneration of the optic nerve and loss of retinal ganglion cells, with corresponding visual field (VF) defects on standard automated perimetry.1,2 While raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is currently the only known modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, there is evidence that vascular insufficiency in the optic nerve head (ONH) also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.3-5 Currently, a number of methods are available for measuring ONH perfusion.6-11 Fluorescein angiography is invasive. It provides only superficial ONH perfusion and not deep perfusion.6 Noninvasive methods such as laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle flowgraphy have demonstrated decreased ONH perfusion in glaucomatous eyes, but have moderate repeatability.8,10 Doppler O...