The Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence–Assisted OCT Angiography–Derived Foveal Avascular Zone Parameters and Visual-Field Defect Progression in Eyes with Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose

To investigate clinical factors associated with foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters obtained using OCT angiography (OCTA) with assistance from a previously developed artificial intelligence (AI) platform in eyes with open-angle glaucoma (OAG).

Design

Retrospective longitudinal.

Participants

This study followed up 885 eyes of 558 patients with OAG for ≥ 2 years; all eyes underwent ≥ 5 Humphrey visual-field (VF) tests and had 3.0 × 3.0 mm macular OCTA scans available.

Methods

Average total deviation (TD) in the superior, superocentral, inferocentral, and inferior sectors of the Humphrey 24-2 program was calculated. We collected 3.0 × 3.0 mm macular OCTA images from each patient and used a previously developed AI platform with these images to obtain FAZ parameters, including FAZ area, FAZ circularity index (CI), and FAZ perimeter. Multivariable linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the relationship between FAZ parameters, TD or TD slope in each quadrant, and systemic factors, adjusting for potential confounding factors, including axial length.

Main Outcome Measures

Ophthalmic and systemic variables, FAZ parameters, and TD or TD slope in each quadrant.

Results

The multivariable model showed that FAZ parameters were correlated with both TD and TD slope in the inferocentral quadrant (β = −0.244 - 0.168, P < 0.001). Both upper-half and lower-half FAZ parameters were better associated with TD-inferocentral and TD-inferocentral slope than TD-superocentral or TD-superocentral slope in terms of β size and statistical significance, indicating that there was no evident vertical anatomical correspondence between TD in the central quadrant and FAZ parameters. Foveal avascular zone area enlargement was associated with female gender (β = 0.242, P = 0.003). Loss of FAZ circularity was associated with both aging and comorbid sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) (yes: 1, no: 0) (β = −0.188, P < 0.001; β = −0.261, P = 0.031, respectively). Foveal avascular zone perimeter elongation was associated with aging and female gender (β = 0.084, P = 0.040; β = 0.168, P = 0.042, respectively).

Conclusions

Artificial intelligence-assisted OCTA-measured FAZ enlargement and irregular shape might be good markers of ocular hypoperfusion and associated inferocentral VF defect progression in eyes with OAG. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.