Unit:
Faculty of MedicineLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Dissertation committee:
Παπακωνσταντίνου Δημήτριος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ - Επιβλέπων
Θεοδοσιάδης Παναγιώτης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεωργάλας Ηλίας, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κυμιωνής Γεώργιος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Δρούτσας Κωνσταντίνος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χατζηράλλη Ειρήνη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Πέτρου Πέτρος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Συσχέτιση του πάχους του κεντρικού κερατοειδούς με τη μικροκυκλοφορία της κεφαλής του οπτικού νεύρου δια της OCT αγγειογραφίας στην οφθαλμική υπερτονία
Translated title:
Correlation between central corneal thickness and the microvascular circulation of the optic nerve head detected by OCT angiography in patients with ocular hypertension
Summary:
Background: Ocular hypertension (OH) is a condition characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) exceeding the normal range, without any evident damage to the optic nerve or visual field defects characteristic of glaucoma. It constitutes a significant precursor to the development of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. Emerging evidence has shown that microcirculation alterations in eyes with OH could serve as predicting factors to identify eyes at high risk for progression to glaucoma. In view of the above the purpose of our study is to investigate microcirculation alterations of the radial peripapillary capillary plexus using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in patients with ocular hypertension (OH).
A total of 192 eyes were included in this observational, comparative, single-centred study and were divided in two groups: OH eyes and healthy controls. OCT-A was performed to analyze microcirculation characteristics at the peripapillary area. Radial peripapillary capillary density was measured at the total area of the optic disc and at each separate region (superior, inferior, temporal, nasal and inside). The parameters of age, medical treatment for ocular hypertension, sex and retinal fiber layer thickness were evaluated.
Total radial peripapillary capillary density was significantly lower in patients with OH than in healthy controls. Concerning the microcirculation characteristics at each separate region of the peripapillary area, the results were as follows: inferior radial peripapillary capillary density was significantly decreased in individuals with OH than in controls, while measurements in the superior peripapillary area and internal optic disc were similar in both groups.
Our study indicates decreased radial peripapillary capillary density in eyes with OH. Microcirculation alterations in the inferior peripapillary area could potentially comprise biomarkers and risk factors for OH progression to glaucoma.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Peripapillary capillary plexus, Intraocular pressure, Optical coherence tomography angiography, Optic disc, Glaucoma
