Title : Analysis of peripapillary and macular blood flow in non-arthritic ischemic optic neuropathy with optic coherence tomography angiography
Abstract:
Our aim in this study is to evaluate peripapillary and macular blood flow in patients diagnosed with non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) and to compare them with the healthy eyes of the patients and healthy individuals.
20 patients older than 50 years of age diagnosed with NA-AION were included in the study. The eyes of these patients with NA-AION were Group 1, and the healthy eyes were Group 2. 25 healthy cases in the same age group were the control group (Group 3). Peripapillary and macular vascular measurements were obtained from these cases using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA). All measurements were made at the first examination, at the 1st month, and at the 3rd month. The results were compared statistically using the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests.
In NA-AION cases, macular and peripapillary vascular and morphological changes were detected at the initial diagnosis, and a significant decrease in peripapillary blood flow, macular vascular perfusion, and macular ganglion analysis was observed at subsequent controls. In addition, it was observed that both superficial and deep vascular perfusion in group 1 were lower than the other groups at the first control and decreased further during the follow-up. In Group 2, the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness of the superior quadrant of the optic disc became thinner during follow-up.
In conclusion, although there are vascular and morphological changes in patients who have undergone NA-AION, morphological changes are also seen in the unaffected eyes, and these changes may be important in the follow-up of the healthy eyes of patients who have undergone NA-AION.
Keywords: Non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy, Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography, Peripapillary and macular blood flow
