Comparison between open-angle glaucoma and angle-closure glaucoma regarding the short-term optic disc vessel density changes after trabeculectomy.

To compare the microvasculature of the optic disc in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) after trabeculectomy. This study included 34 patients divided into two groups based on the angle: (1) the OAG Group, which included 24 eyes from 24 patients, and (2) the ACG Group, which included ten eyes from 10 patients. All patients were subjected to comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. It included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, and stereoscopic examination of the optic disc. The central corneal thickness was measured using a Nidek AL scan optical biometer. The visual field was evaluated by standard automated perimetry using Humphrey Field Analyzer (24-2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm; Carl-Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Moreover, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) was performed utilizing the RTVue XR Avanti scanner (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) preoperatively as well as 1 month after surgery. There was a statistically significant increase in optic disc vessel density (VD) in the whole image, radial peripapillary, inferior, superior, temporal, and nasal quadrant in OAG after surgery. Regarding the change in VD after surgery in ACG patients, there was a statistically significant increase in optic disc VD in the whole image, radial peripapillary, inferior, superior, temporal, and nasal quadrant in ACG after surgery.Regarding the percentage of VD change following trabeculectomy surgery, there were highly significant differences between the two groups for the whole image, radial peripapillary, inferior quadrant, and temporal quadrant VD. Statistically significant changes were also observed in the superior and nasal quadrants of VD. However, no significant change in VD was detected within the disc. In conclusion, the optic disc VD improved after the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) by surgery in both OAG and ACG. However, ACG demonstrated a significant improvement than the OAG.

The Effect of Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection on the Retinal Microvasculature.

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term microvasculature changes of the macula and optic disc following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This study included 150 eyes (50 eyes of healthy controls and 100 eyes of patients) during the 1st month following COVID-19 recovery, as evidenced by two negative polymerase chain reactions. A complete ophthalmic examination and optical coherence tomography angiography were performed to detect the deep and superficial macular vessel density (VD). In addition, the VD of the optic disc was evaluated. Results: Deep VD (DVD) showed a statistically significant decrease in post-COVID-19 patients, particularly those with severe COVID-19. This reduction occurred in the whole image, parafoveal, and perifoveal VD (P = 0.002, P = 0.002, and P < 0.001, respectively). Concerning the superficial VD (SVD), only the superior hemisphere of the whole image density was statistically significantly reduced (P = 0.037). There was no statistically significant difference in foveal VD (both deep and superficial vessel) among the study groups (P = 0.148 and P = 0.322, respectively). Regarding the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), there was no statistically significant among groups (P = 0.548). Regarding the optic disc, the whole image VD and redial peripapillary capillary VD demonstrated a highly significant decrease, particularly in cases of severe COVID-19. Conversely, inside disc VD showed a nonsignificant change among the study groups. Conclusions: According to the findings of the current study, retinal microvasculature was affected in the 1st month following recovery from COVID-19. DVD was significantly reduced more than SVD. In addition, peripapillary VD decreased, whereas the FAZ was unaffected.

Optic disc vessel density changes after shunt surgery in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

AIM: To detect the change in optic disc vessel density in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) after shunt surgery. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-one patients with IIH underwent shunt surgery. Patients were subjected to full ophthalmic and neurological examinations. Optic disc vessel density was measured using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) before and two months after surgery. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 27 to 48 years old, with a mean of (34.85 ± 6.87). Visual acuity ranged between 0.2 and 0.9 by log Mar, with a mean of (0.64±o.20). The mean deviation (MD) of the perimeter ranged from -22.9 to 0 dB, with a mean of (-9.77 ± 7.23 dB). With respect to the grade of papilledema, 15 eyes (35.7%) were of grade II, 21 eyes (50.0%) were of grade III, and 6 eyes (14.3%) were grade IV. Intracranial pressure measured by lumbar puncture (LP) prior to surgery ranged from 30 to 40 cm, with a mean of 35.43 cm. Except for right transverse sinus hypoplasia in 6 patients (28.6%), MRV was normal. In 15 patients (71.4%), lumboperitoneal shunt was performed, while ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in 6 patients (28.6%). After surgery, the optical disc vessel density was decreased in all patients. This decrease was highly significant for the whole image, the inner disc, the peripapillary, superior, and inferior hemispheres. Moreover, this reduction affected both optic disc microvasculature (referred to as capillary vessel density) and macro vasculature (also known as all vessel density). There were positive correlations between the CSF opening pressures and the preoperative optic disc vessel density of the whole image and inside disc with a P-value (0.002, 0.009), respectively. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the opening CSF pressures and the reduction in whole image vessel density after surgery with a P-value of 0.000. CONCLUSION: Optic disc vessel density decreased after shunt surgery in patients with IIH. Consequently, optic disc vessel density can be used as a biomarker for the reduction of CSF opening pressure.