Comparative analysis of OCT-angiography in macular region of retina in patients with low tension glaucoma and hypertensive form of primary open-angle glaucoma

The purpose of the study was to compare the microcirculation parameters of the macular region of the retina using optical coherence tomography with angiography (OCTA) in patients with stage II newly diagnosed low-tension glaucoma (LTG) and the hypertensive form of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Material and methods. In the dispensary and outpatient department of eye microsurgery of the State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Clinical Hospital 8, Ufa, 3 groups of patients aged 45 to 65 years old were examined. The first group consisted of 30 patients (30 eyes) with an advanced stage of newly diagnosed low-tension glaucoma. The second group included 45 patients (45 eyes) with stage II hypertensive form of POAG (hereinafter referred to as POAG). The control (third) group consisted of 50 relatively healthy people without glaucoma and concomitant ophthalmopathology (50 eyes). All patients were comparable by gender and age. The ophthalmological examination included OCTA of the macular area with measurement of vascular density using an Optovue XR Avanti device with the AngioVue function (Optovue, USA).
Results. According to the study, statically significant differences in retinal vascular density in patients with LTG and POAG were recorded in the superficial choroid plexus of the Parafovea region, while microcirculation disorders in both the superficial and deep vascular plexuses of the macula were more pronounced in the group of patients with POAG. In patients with stage II LTG, the indicator of vascular density of the superficial choroid plexus had a positive correlation of weak strength in Fovea with the thickness of the retina in this area (r=0.464*, p<0.05), and in the Parafovea region - a negative correlation of medium strength with the level global loss of the retinal ganglion cell complex (r=-0.528*, p<0.05). The results obtained indicate the possibility of using OCTA to assess the degree of damage to the macular region of the retina in glaucomatous optic neuro-opticopathy in patients with an advanced stage of both low-tension glaucoma and the hypertensive form of the disease.

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