Prediction of central visual field deterioration by sector-wise peripapillary vessel density measurement in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between the visual field (VF) deterioration and vessel density (VD) around the optic nerve head (ONH) in a sector-wise manner in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

METHODS

The present study enrolled the RP patients who demonstrated VF constriction within central 10°. The VD around the ONH was measured with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), using three binarization methods and the relationships between VD and the mean deviation (MD) value were investigated, respectively. Then, the VD in each quadrant (superior, temporal, inferior, nasal) around the ONH was calculated using Otsu method (OVDs: vessel density measured with Otsu method in the superior region, OVDt: vessel density measured with Otsu method in the temporal region, OVDi: vessel density measured with Otsu method in the inferior region, OVDn: vessel density measured with Otsu method in the nasal region). Considering the foveal position relative to the optic disc, angle-corrected binarized OCTA images were created and the VD was measured in each sector (AcOVDs: angle-corrected OVDs, AcOVDt: angle-corrected OVDt, AcOVDi: angle-corrected OVDi, and AcOVDn: angle-corrected OVDn). We investigated the relationship between the MD value and OVDs, OVDt, OVDi and OVDn. Furthermore, the correlation between the MD value and AcOVDs, AcOVDt, AcOVDi and AcOVDn was analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six eyes were examined in the current study. Among Niblack, Bernsen and Otsu methods, the VD measured with Otsu method was closely related to the MD value. Among OVDs, OVDt, OVDi and OVDn, the optimal model for the MD value included OVDt and OVDi. On the other hand, among AcOVDs, AcOVDt, AcOVDi and AcOVDn, the optimal model for the MD value included only AcOVDt.

CONCLUSIONS

The sector-wise VD around the ONH reflects VF deficit severity and is a candidate for improving the assessment of VF deterioration in eyes with RP.