Changes in Retinal Perfusion in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: An Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography Study.

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to study the change in the retinal perfusion in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

METHODS

Fourteen patients (28 eyes) diagnosed with LHON and 14 healthy controls (28 eyes) were enrolled. The retinal vessel densities in the parafoveal and peripapillary areas were measured with optical coherence tomography-angiography.

RESULTS

In the subacute LHON patients, the parafoveal superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and inner retinal thickness (IRT) were significantly reduced in all sectors compared with the controls (all p < 0.05), and the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network was significantly reduced in the temporal and inferior temporal sectors compared with the controls (p < 0.05). In the chronic LHON patients, the SCP and IRT were significantly lower in all sectors than in the controls (all p < 0.05), the RPC vessel density and thickness were significantly lower in all sectors than in the controls and lower in the temporal, superior temporal, inferior temporal, and nasal sectors than in the subacute-stage patients (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The retinal structure and the perfusion of the macular and peripapillary areas are reduced in subacute LHON, and the retinal structure and the perfusion of the peripapillary area are further reduced in chronic LHON.