Application of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in True and Pseudo Optic Disc Swelling
Amin Zand1 *, Kaveh Abri Aghdam2 , Ali Aghajani3 , Samira Chaibakhsh2 , Pasha Anvari2 , Fatemeh Zahra Ijadi2 , Khalil Ghasemi Falavarjani2
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shafa Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Eye Research Center, Eye Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Rassoul Akram Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Isfahan Eye Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract: We assessed the optic disc microvasculature in healthy subjects and patients with optic nerve head drusen (ONHD), active papilledema, and acute non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods: Sixteen eyes with ONHD, 31 eyes with active papilledema, 16 eyes with acute NAION, and 32 healthy eyes were included in this prospective and comparative case series. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and vessel density maps from radial peripapillary capillary slab were recorded by the Optovue AngioVue OCT and OCTA Imaging System.
Results: Average RNFL thicknesses were greater in the eyes with ONHD, papilledema, and NAION than in control eyes (all Ps < 0.001), but this parameter did not differ among patient groups. In comparison to healthy eyes, the vessel density in the ONHD group was not lower (P = 1.000), in contrast to the papilledema and NAION groups (P = 0.008, and P < 0.001, respectively). The only difference between eyes with papilledema and ONHD was lower vessel density in the papilledema group (P = 0.018). All vessel density values were lower in the eyes with NAION in comparison to the ONHD (all Ps ≤ 0.002).
Conclusion: RPC density is affected during the course of ONHD, papilledema, and NAION. Despite the observed decrease in the vessel density values in true disc edema, further studies are needed to evaluate the application of OCTA for differentiating true from pseudo optic disc edema.
