Comparison of lamina cribrosa properties and the peripapillary vessel density between branch retinal vein occlusion and normal-tension glaucoma

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 2;15(10):e0240109. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240109. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the properties of the lamina cribrosa (LC) and the peripapillary vessel density between branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), using swept-source optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography.

Methods: This retrospective study included 21 eyes of 21 patients with BRVO and 43 eyes of 43 patients with NTG who were treated from June 2016 to September 2017. The anterior LC depth (ALCD) and LC thickness (LCT) at the mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior levels; the mean difference in ALCD; and the peripapillary vessel density in the superficial and deep capillary plexuses and the choriocapillaris were compared between groups.

Results: ALCD at the mid-superior, central, and mid-inferior levels was significantly greater in the NTG group (P < 0.05), while LCT was comparable between the groups. The mean difference in ALCD was significantly greater in the BRVO group (P = 0.03). The peripapillary vessel density in the superotemporal segment of the superficial capillary plexus was significantly lower in the BRVO group, while the density in all segments of the choriocapillaris was significantly lower in the NTG group (P < 0.05 for all).

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that BRVO and NTG have different LC structures and peripapillary vessel densities.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fundus Oculi
  • Humans
  • Low Tension Glaucoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Low Tension Glaucoma / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Optic Nerve / diagnostic imaging
  • Optic Nerve / pathology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / pathology*
  • Retinal Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT(NRF-2017R1C1B5018279).