Factors Associated With Lamina Cribrosa Microvasculature Determined Through Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography.

Prcis: The lamina cribrosa (LC) microvasculature reduction was associated with the posterior deformation of LC, as well as the functional deterioration, in all spectrums of open angle glaucoma.

Objective: To investigate the factors associated with the lamina cribrosa vessel density (LCVD) determined through swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

Materials and methods: The optic nerve head (ONH) scan was obtained using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (PLEX Elite 9000; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.). The lamina cribrosa curvature index (LCCI) was assessed using seven horizontal B-scan images across the ONH. The LCVD was calculated from the segmented layer at the level of LC. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes were categorized into 2 groups according to the visual field mean deviation (VF MD; mild to moderate [≥ -12 dB] and advanced [< -12 dB]). The factors associated with the LCVD were evaluated using linear regression analysis.

Results: A total of 127 POAG and 43 healthy eyes were included. POAG eyes showed a significantly thinner circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer, lower LCVD, and greater LCCI compared with healthy eyes (all P < 0.05). In the mild to moderate group, lower LCVD was associated with worse VF MD, thinner circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer, and greater LCCI (all P < 0.05). In the advanced group, the LCVD was associated with VF MD and LCCI (both P < 0.05). A greater LCVD was correlated with a greater LCCI in the healthy group ( P = 0.045).

Conclusions: Reduced LCVD was associated with an increased LCCI in all spectrums of POAG. LC deformation may affect the ONH microvasculature in glaucoma.