Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of the Macula in Patients with Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Abstract

Background: The retinal microvasculature within the macula in glaucomatous eyes is not clear. Objectives: To detect macular vessel density (MVD) changes in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Methods: Twenty-two PACG patients who had an episode of acute primary angle closure were included. Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were conducted to measure the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC). The MVD was measured with OCT angiography. Results: A weakened macular microvascular network that had an expanded fovea avascular zone was observed in the case group. Compared with the control group, the case group had a lower MVD (p < 0.001). Single correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation of the MVD with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (r = -0.65, p = 0.001), GCC (r = 0.50, p = 0.018), and the visual field mean deviation (r = -0.54, p = 0.009) in the case group. Moreover, in the mixed-effect models, the MVD was found to be positively correlated with GCC (p = 0.017) and negatively correlated with LogMar BCVA (p < 0.001). Conclusions: After an acute angle-closure attack, the macular microvascular network is attenuated, and the MVD decreases significantly.