Peripapillary Vessel Density in Glaucomatous Eyes: Comparison Between Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma and Primary Open-angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the peripapillary vessel density between eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

Peripapillary vessel density in the radial peripapillary capillaries was assessed using optical coherence tomography angiography, and compared between patients with PXG and those with POAG, matched for age and mean deviation (MD) of standard automated perimetry. The vessel density was measured between the optic disc margin and 750 μm from the optic disc margin.

RESULTS

In total, 39 eyes with PXG were matched to 39 eyes with POAG. Mean untreated intraocular pressure was higher in the PXG group than in the POAG group (21.4±6.7 vs. 14.9±2.9 mm Hg; P<0.001), but there was no difference in age, refractive error, visual field MD, or average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between the 2 groups. However, the average peripapillary vessel density in the radial peripapillary capillaries was lower in the eyes with PXG than in the eyes with POAG. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between peripapillary vessel density and both visual field MD and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

CONCLUSIONS

Peripapillary vessel density was lower in eyes with PXG than in eyes with POAG of similar severity.