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Purpose: To evaluate the retinal vasculature in patient with internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and to highlight association between ICA stenosis severity and retinal vasculature changes. Methods: Seventy-five subjects were included in this prospective study. Twenty-five healthy subjects were included in the Group 1, 25 subjects with 1–49% ICA stenosis were included in the Group 2, and 25 subjects with 50–69% ICA stenosis were included in the Group 3. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and anterior and posterior segment examinations were performed. Macular superficial and deep capillary density, optic nerve head capillary density, and choroidal thickness data were measured using optic coherence tomography angiography. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the three groups regarding superficial vascular density, deep vascular density, vascular density of radial peripapillary capillary and choroid thickness (p < 0.05 for all). Mean parafoveal and perifoveal area vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus was significantly lower in the Group 3 than Group 1 (p < 0.05 for all). Mean whole area vascular density of the deep capillary plexus was significantly lower in Group 3 than both groups (p < 0.05 for all). Mean parafoveal area vascular density of the deep capillary plexus was significantly lower in the Group 3 than Group 1 (p < 0.05). Mean subfoveal choroid thickness in group 3 was significantly lower in the Group 3 than both groups (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusion: Compared to healthy controls, patients with moderate ICA stenosis revealed decreased density of superficial, deep and radial peripapillary capillary vasculature and subfoveal choroidal thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Highly myopic macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) is often associated with a poor prognosis, and there is currently no optimal treatment. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous blood product, has been shown to promote tissue regeneration. This prospective, randomized, controlled study investigated the efficacy of conventional internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling versus PRF membrane transplantation in highly myopic MHRD. Methods: Eyes with highly myopic MHRD were randomly assigned to either a conventional ILM peeling group (IP group, n = 19) or a PRF membrane transplantation group (PMT group, n = 21). The study followed participants for a period of 6 months. The primary outcome measure was macular hole (MH) closure assessed using optical coherence tomography. Secondary outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), superficial vascular density (SVD), deep vascular density (DVD), rate of retinal reattachment, and any complications encountered. Results: MH closure was achieved in a significantly greater proportion of eyes in the PMT group (21/21, 100.00%) compared to the IP group (15/19, 78.95%) (P = 0.042). Retinal reattachment was accomplished in all patients (100.00%) within both groups. Except for an insignificant difference in BCVA observed at 1 week post-surgery in the IP group, significant improvements in BCVA and CRT were documented in both groups across all other post-operative time points. Final BCVA (P = 0.040), CRT (P = 0.002), SVD (P = 0.002), and DVD (P = 0.013) were all significantly higher in the PMT group compared to the IP group. No serious complications were identified in either group. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the superiority of PRF membrane transplantation compared to conventional ILM peeling in promoting MH closure and enhancing retinal vascular density in patients with highly myopic MHRD. Additionally, PRF membrane transplantation effectively restores retinal reattachment, improves visual function, and increases retinal thickness without introducing additional complications. Trial Registration Number: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT06200727. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Highly myopic macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD) is often associated with a poor prognosis, and there is currently no optimal treatment. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), an autologous blood product, has been shown to promote tissue regeneration. This prospective, randomized, controlled study investigated the efficacy of conventional internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling versus PRF membrane transplantation in highly myopic MHRD. Methods Eyes with highly myopic MHRD were randomly assigned to either a conventional ILM peeling group (IP group, n = 19) or a PRF membrane transplantation group (PMT group, n = 21). The study followed participants for a period of 6 months. The primary outcome measure was macular hole (MH) closure assessed using optical coherence tomography. Secondary outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), superficial vascular density (SVD), deep vascular density (DVD), rate of retinal reattachment, and any complications encountered. Results MH closure was achieved in a significantly greater proportion of eyes in the PMT group (21/21, 100.00%) compared to the IP group (15/19, 78.95%) (P = 0.042). Retinal reattachment was accomplished in all patients (100.00%) within both groups. Except for an insignificant difference in BCVA observed at 1 week post-surgery in the IP group, significant improvements in BCVA and CRT were documented in both groups across all other post-operative time points. Final BCVA (P = 0.040), CRT (P = 0.002), SVD (P = 0.002), and DVD (P = 0.013) were all significantly higher in the PMT group compared to the IP group. No serious complications were identified in either group. Conclusions This study demonstrated the superiority of PRF membrane transplantation compared to conventional ILM peeling in promoting MH closure and enhancing retinal vascular density in patients with highly myopic MHRD. Additionally, PRF membrane transplantation effectively restores retinal reattachment, improves visual function, and increases retinal thickness without introducing additional complications. Trial Registration Number www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT06200727.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess alterations in retinal vascular density in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and investigate their association with MRI and cognitive features. Methods: Twenty-five patients with CADASIL and forty healthy controls were evaluated by Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 with AngioPlex OCTA to determine changes in macular retinal vasculature. Retinal vasculature parameters between two groups were compared. The MRI lesion burden and neuropsychological scales were also examined in patients. The association between OCTA parameters and MRI/cognitive features was evaluated using partial Spearman rank correlation. Results: The vessel density and perfusion density of whole image in macular region (vessel density: t = − 2.834, p = 0.005; perfusion density: t = − 2.691, p = 0.007) were significantly decreased in patients with CADASIL. Moreover, vessel density of whole image in macular region was negatively associated with Fazekas scores (ρ = − 0.457; p = 0.025) and the number of lacunar infractions (ρ = − 0.425, p = 0.038) after adjustment for age. Decreased macular vessel density and perfusion density of whole image were also associated with MoCA scores (vessel density: ρ = 0.542, p = 0.006; perfusion density: ρ = 0.478, p = 0.018) and other domain-specific neuropsychological tests (p < 0.05) after adjustment for age. Conclusion: Decreased retinal vascular density was associated with increased MRI lesion burden and cognitive impairment in patients with CADASIL. Our findings suggest that the degree of retinal vascular involvement, as demonstrated by OCTA, may be consistent with the severity of MRI lesions and the degree of cognitive impairment in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study aims to compare choroidal thickness, deep and superficial retinal capillary plexuses, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters in elite martial arts athletes and a healthy sedentary control group. Methods: The study included martial arts athletes (32 individuals, 64 eyes) and healthy sedentary persons (43 individuals with healthy sedentary lifestyles, 86 eyes) aged 18–35 years. In this single non-repeated observational and cross-sectional study, choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and FAZ measurements were measured using Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and compared between groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05) in age, IOP, AL (axial length), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) parameters between groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and FAZ parameters determined by the OCTA method (p > 0.05). Conclusion: In our study, we observed that the retinal and choroidal structures of martial art athletes and healthy sedentary individuals were similar. This observation implies that the putative microvascular effects on the choroid and retina in martial arts, especially those based on the anaerobic energy system, may reflect similar outcomes to those observed in individuals with sedentary lifestyles characterized by healthiness.

Background: Qualitative and quantitative assessment of retinal perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has shown to be effective in the treatment and management of various retinal and optic nerve diseases. However, manual analyses of OCTA images to calculate metrics related to Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) morphology, and retinal vascular density and morphology are costly, time-consuming, subject to human error, and are exposed to both inter and intra operator variability.Objective: This study aimed to develop an open-source software framework for quantitative OCTA (QOCTA). Particularly, for analyzing OCTA images and measuring several indices describing microvascular morphology, vessel morphology, and FAZ morphology.Material and Methods: In this analytical study, we developed a toolbox or QOCTA using image processing algorithms provided in MATLAB. The software automatically determines FAZ and measures several parameters related to both size and shape of FAZ including area, perimeter, Feret’s diameter circularity, axial ratio, roundness, and solidity. The microvascular structure is derived from the processed image to estimate the vessel density (VD). To assess the reliability of the software, three independent operators measured the mentioned parameters for the eyes of 21 subjects. The consistency of the values was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) index.Results: Excellent consistency was observed between the measurements completed for the superficial layer, ICC >0.9. For the deep layer, good reliability in the measurements was achieved, ICC >0.7. Conclusion: The developed software is reliable; hence, it can facilitate quantitative OCTA, further statistical comparison in cohort OCTA studies, and can assist with obtaining deeper insights into retinal variations in various populations.

Importance: Understanding the pathophysiology of the macula in amblyopic eyes is an active research area. Objective: To correlate macular retinal vascular density changes with best-corrected visual acuity changes following occlusion therapy for amblyopia in children. Design: A prospective cohort study of children visiting the Pediatric Ophthalmology Division of our institution between January 2020 and January 2022 was conducted. Setting: A specialist eye hospital in Saudi Arabia. Participants: Thirty children with unilateral amblyopia. Exposure: Occlusion therapy for amblyopia.Main Outcome and Measures: Best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) before and at each of the four optical coherence tomographic angiographies was compared in amblyopic and fellow eyes. The effect of pretreatment determinants on the correlation between best-corrected visual acuity and retinal vascular density changes was reviewed. Results: In this cohort of 30 amblyopic and 30 fellow eyes from 30 children (mean age 8.7 ± 1.4 years; male: female 18:12. The best-corrected visual acuity improved from a median of 0.6 (interquartile range 0.5; 1.1) pretreatment to a median of 0.4 (interquartile range 0.2; 0.6) posttreatment in amblyopic eyes, and from a median of 0.1 to 0.05 in the fellow eyes. The total percentage change in retinal vascular density in the amblyopic eye was significantly higher than that in the fellow eye (Z = −1.92, P = 0.05). The change in best-corrected visual acuity in the amblyopic eye after a median of 98 months (interquartile range, 69–126 months) of intervention was significantly correlated with the refraction-adjusted change in retinal vascular density (B = −0.03, 95 % confidence interval −0.04, −0.02, P

AIM: To evaluate the alterations of the retinal microvasculature and foveal avascular zone in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). METHODS: A retrospective study of PD patients examined in the Ophthalmology Department of the General Hospital of Athens, “Georgios Gennimatas” from March 2021 to March 2022 was conducted. Totally 44 patients with PD were included and 18 healthy controls were examined, hence a total of 124 eyes were enrolled in the study. The foveal and parafoveal superficial and deep capillary plexus vascular density (fSCP-VD, fDCP-VD, pSCP-VD, pDCP-CD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were quantified with OCTA. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure macular thickness. Our statistical analysis was conducted by using a mixed effect linear regression model. RESULTS: After adjustment for age and gender, the mean parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vascular density (pSCP-VD) and mean parafoveal deep capillary plexus vascular density (pDCP-VD) were significantly decreased in individuals with PD (P

Purpose: Idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral, idiopathic, and perifoveal retinal telangiectatic vessel formations. We aimed to compare proximal nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NV) findings between patients with IMT and healthy individuals and evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters of the patients with IMT according to their NV findings. Methods: The study included 43 patients with IMT and 92 healthy controls of similar age and gender without any additional diseases. The OCTA and NV findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results: The mean age was 59.76 ± 5.73 years in the IMT group and 58.23 ± 4.96 years in the control group. Of the 43 patients with IMT, 19 were found to have increased capillary tortuosity, six had microhemorrhage, and 18 had bizarre capillaries (P < 0.001). In the IMT group, the total vascular density value of the superficial capillary plexus was higher among the patients with capillary microhemorrhage (P = 0.001), and the subfoveal choroidal thickness was lower among those with increased capillary tortuosity and bizarre capillaries (P = 0.04 and P = 0.07, respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study in which the NV findings of patients with IMT were compared with those of a control group. We found higher rates of increased capillary tortuosity, microhemorrhage, and bizarre capillaries in the IMT group compared to the controls. We consider that this situation is caused by microvascular damage. We also think that IMT is a systemic disease that affects both proximal nailfold capillaries and eye vessels.

Purpose: Idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral, idiopathic, and perifoveal retinal telangiectatic vessel formations. We aimed to compare proximal nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NV) findings between patients with IMT and healthy individuals and evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters of the patients with IMT according to their NV findings. Methods: The study included 43 patients with IMT and 92 healthy controls of similar age and gender without any additional diseases. The OCTA and NV findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results: The mean age was 59.76 ± 5.73 years in the IMT group and 58.23 ± 4.96 years in the control group. Of the 43 patients with IMT, 19 were found to have increased capillary tortuosity, six had microhemorrhage, and 18 had bizarre capillaries (P < 0.001). In the IMT group, the total vascular density value of the superficial capillary plexus was higher among the patients with capillary microhemorrhage (P = 0.001), and the subfoveal choroidal thickness was lower among those with increased capillary tortuosity and bizarre capillaries (P = 0.04 and P = 0.07, respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study in which the NV findings of patients with IMT were compared with those of a control group. We found higher rates of increased capillary tortuosity, microhemorrhage, and bizarre capillaries in the IMT group compared to the controls. We consider that this situation is caused by microvascular damage. We also think that IMT is a systemic disease that affects both proximal nailfold capillaries and eye vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qualitative and quantitative assessment of retinal perfusion using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has shown to be effective in the treatment and management of various retinal and optic nerve diseases. However, manual analyses of OCTA images to calculate metrics related to Foveal Avascular Zone (FAZ) morphology, and retinal vascular density and morphology are costly, time-consuming, subject to human error, and are exposed to both inter and intra operator variability. Objective: This study aimed to develop an open-source software framework for quantitative OCTA (QOCTA). Particularly, for analyzing OCTA images and measuring several indices describing microvascular morphology, vessel morphology, and FAZ morphology. Material and Methods: In this analytical study, we developed a toolbox or QOCTA using image processing algorithms provided in MATLAB. The software automatically determines FAZ and measures several parameters related to both size and shape of FAZ including area, perimeter, Feret's diameter circularity, axial ratio, roundness, and solidity. The microvascular structure is derived from the processed image to estimate the vessel density (VD). To assess the reliability of the software, three independent operators measured the mentioned parameters for the eyes of 21 subjects. The consistency of the values was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) index. Results: Excellent consistency was observed between the measurements completed for the superficial layer, ICC >0.9. For the deep layer, good reliability in the measurements was achieved, ICC >0.7. Conclusion: The developed software is reliable; hence, it can facilitate quantitative OCTA, further statistical comparison in cohort OCTA studies, and can assist with obtaining deeper insights into retinal variations in various populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by bilateral, idiopathic, and perifoveal retinal telangiectatic vessel formations. We aimed to compare proximal nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NV) findings between patients with IMT and healthy individuals and evaluate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters of the patients with IMT according to their NV findings. Methods: The study included 43 patients with IMT and 92 healthy controls of similar age and gender without any additional diseases. The OCTA and NV findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results: The mean age was 59.76 ± 5.73 years in the IMT group and 58.23 ± 4.96 years in the control group. Of the 43 patients with IMT, 19 were found to have increased capillary tortuosity, six had microhemorrhage, and 18 had bizarre capillaries (P < 0.001). In the IMT group, the total vascular density value of the superficial capillary plexus was higher among the patients with capillary microhemorrhage (P = 0.001), and the subfoveal choroidal thickness was lower among those with increased capillary tortuosity and bizarre capillaries (P = 0.04 and P = 0.07, respectively). Conclusion: This is the first study in which the NV findings of patients with IMT were compared with those of a control group. We found higher rates of increased capillary tortuosity, microhemorrhage, and bizarre capillaries in the IMT group compared to the controls. We consider that this situation is caused by microvascular damage. We also think that IMT is a systemic disease that affects both proximal nailfold capillaries and eye vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been increasing among young people in developing countries over the last years. With the continuous development of new technology, the diagnosis and follow-up of these patients has received new parameters that physicians may use in their practice. This paper reviews the main biomarkers identified through Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A) involved in the development and progression of MS and investigates the role it may have in detecting changes to the central nervous system (CNS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the case of a pediatric patient with optic neuritis in whom changes in the retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) and superficial retinal vessel density were dissociated. Observations: An 8-year-old girl had an upper respiratory tract infection in early February 2019, after which she began to experience oculomotor pain and vision loss in her left eye. She was diagnosed with optic neuritis of the left eye. Initial examination showed a visual acuity of 20/20 in her right eye and light perception in her left eye. After steroid pulse therapy, her left visual acuity improved to 20/20 in April 2019, with no further symptoms to date. The GCC in the affected eye continued to become thinner until November 2019. However, optical coherence tomography angiography carried out after improvement in her visual function showed no difference in vascular density of the superficial retinal capillary plexus between the right and left eyes. Conclusions and importance: In glaucoma, GCC thinning and vascular density loss occur almost simultaneously at an early stage. However, the current neuritis case showed changes in GCC but no corresponding changes in vascular density in the same area. This report suggests that optic neuritis and glaucoma involve different mechanisms of GCC thinning.

Background: We aimed to compare the retinal, optic disc vascular density (ODVD) values, and acircularity index (AI) of patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) and healthy individuals using the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) device. Methods: The study included 39 patients with IMT and 37 healthy controls. The OCTA findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results: The total, parafoveal and perifoveal vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus, choriocapillaris blood flow, inside-disc ODVD, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and retinal thicknesses were found to be statistically significantly lower, and the foveal avascular zone value was statistically significantly higher in the IMT group compared to the control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.01, p = 0.009, p = 0.002, p = 0.02, respectively). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and AI (p = 0.02), and a statistically significant positive correlation between peripapillary vascular density and BCVA (p = 0.04). Conclusions: We consider that the lower retinal, choriocapillaris, ODVD values, and retinal and RNFL thicknesses in the patients with IMT compared to the controls were due to vascular damage, remodeling, fibrosis, proliferation, and Müller cell damage. Ellipsoid zone defect, AI, and peripapillary vascular density are important indicators in the evaluation of visual acuity in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The two most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Although these diseases mainly affect the intestinal system, they can also affect other systems, especially the vascular system. The objective of this study is to evaluate ocular microvascular and structural changes in IBD. Methods: A total of 42 patients with IBD (22 UC and 20 CD) followed in the gastroenterology clinic and 42 healthy controls matched for gender and age were enrolled in the study. All participants underwent optical coherence tomography angiography. Macular vessel density, central retinal, and choroidal thicknesses were measured. Results: No significant differences were observed between IBD patients and control subjects as regards superficial vascular plexus density, deep vascular plexus density, and choriocapillaris vascular density, retinal and choroidal thickness in the macular area (p >.05). Although not statistically significant, vascular density generally increased. On the other hand, retinal and choroidal thickness were decreased. Conclusion: It could be said that there is a reactive increase in retinal vascular density and a decrease in retinal and choroidal thickness as a result of atherosclerotic changes in IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an auto-immune disease characterized by fever and serositis. With this study, we aimed at comparing the retinal vascular structures of FMF patients and healthy individuals using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) device. Materials and methods: Sixty-nine patients with FMF and 52 healthy controls who were matched by age and sex, didn't have any comorbidities and were admitted to our clinic for routine ophthalmic examination were enrolled in the study. Sixty-nine eyes of 69 patients and 52 eyes of 52 healthy controls that were not disqualified due to the exclusion criteria were included in the study. OCTA images of the patients and controls were analyzed. Results: The mean average age (± SD) of 69 FMF patients included in the study was 39.86 ± 13.16. Forty-nine patients were female, and twenty patients were male. Total vascular density of deep capillary plexus (DCP) and vascular density of DCP parafovea of the FMF patients were found to be statistically significantly lower than those of the controls (p = 0.045, p = 0.034, respectively), while total retinal parafoveal thickness, total retinal perifoveal thickness, outer retinal parafoveal thickness and outer retinal perifoveal thickness were statistically significantly higher in the patient group compared with the control group (p = 0.012, p = 0.014, p = 0.013, p = 0.009, respectively). Conclusions: This study found reduced vascular density and increased retinal thickness in patients with FMF compared to controls. Larger studies are required to further explore the effect of FMF on the retina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the relationship among changes in corneal topography, retinal vascular density, and retinal thickness in myopic children who underwent orthokeratology for 3 months.MethodThirty children with myopia wore orthokeratology lenses for 3 months. Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the retina was imaged as 6 × 6 mm en-face images at baseline and 3 months after orthokeratology. Cornea data was acquired by topography and analyzed by customer MATLAB software. The cornea was divided into 3 zones and 9 sectors. The relative corneal refractive power shift (RCRPS) was used in this study. Changes in retinal vascular density (RVDC) and retinal thickness change (RTC) were associated with RCRPS by using spearman test. Statistical significance was set at p 0.05) were observed at any regions.ConclusionThe correlation between the cornea and the retina was observed after orthokeratology. Cornea changes may affect regional retinal responses accordingly，which may explain how orthokeratology delays myopia progression partially.

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The aim of this study was to investigate possible vascular changes in pediatric patients infected with COVID-19 and to compare these with an age-matched control group. All patients underwent an ocular assessment and optical coherence tomography angiography examination. Two vascular networks were analyzed as the superficial and deep regions. Evaluation was made of 40 eyes of 20 patients who had recently recovered from COVID infection and 80 eyes of 40 healthy individuals. The DCP-VD values of the COVID group were significantly lower than the control group in most quadrants. The FAZ PERIM and FAZ area values in the COVID patients were higher than the control group, but not statistically significant (p>.05). Pediatric cases of COVID-19 may differ from adults based on structural and immune response differences, and that OCTA can be a noninvasive guide for analysis of the end-organ effects of pediatric COVID disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to compare the retinal, optic disc vascular density (ODVD) values, and acircularity index (AI) of patients with idiopathic macular telangiectasia type 2 (IMT) and healthy individuals using the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) device. Methods: The study included 39 patients with IMT and 37 healthy controls. The OCTA findings of the patients and controls were examined. Results: The total, parafoveal and perifoveal vascular density of the superficial capillary plexus, choriocapillaris blood flow, inside-disc ODVD, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and retinal thicknesses were found to be statistically significantly lower, and the foveal avascular zone value was statistically significantly higher in the IMT group compared to the control group (p = 0.001, p = 0.01, p = 0.02, p = 0.01, p = 0.009, p = 0.002, p = 0.02, respectively). There was a statistically significant negative correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and AI (p = 0.02), and a statistically significant positive correlation between peripapillary vascular density and BCVA (p = 0.04). Conclusions: We consider that the lower retinal, choriocapillaris, ODVD values, and retinal and RNFL thicknesses in the patients with IMT compared to the controls were due to vascular damage, remodeling, fibrosis, proliferation, and Müller cell damage. Ellipsoid zone defect, AI, and peripapillary vascular density are important indicators in the evaluation of visual acuity in these patients.

• Healthy sedentary and martial arts athletes have similar retinal and choroidal structures. • Individuals with a long training history in martial arts athletes with a predominant anaerobic system have similar vascular densities to healthy sedentary individuals. • Relatively chronic anaerobic exercise loads did not show significant changes in vascular densities and this was similar to healthy sedentary subjects. The study aims to compare choroidal thickness, deep and superficial retinal capillary plexuses, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters in elite martial arts athletes and a healthy sedentary control group. The study included martial arts athletes (32 individuals, 64 eyes) and healthy sedentary persons (43 individuals with healthy sedentary lifestyles, 86 eyes) aged 18–35 years. In this single non-repeated observational and cross-sectional study, choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and FAZ measurements were measured using Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) and compared between groups. No statistically significant differences were found (p > 0.05) in age, IOP, AL (axial length), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) parameters between groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and FAZ parameters determined by the OCTA method (p > 0.05). In our study, we observed that the retinal and choroidal structures of martial art athletes and healthy sedentary individuals were similar. This observation implies that the putative microvascular effects on the choroid and retina in martial arts, especially those based on the anaerobic energy system, may reflect similar outcomes to those observed in individuals with sedentary lifestyles characterized by healthiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To observe the blood flow density and morphological structure of choroid and retina in the macular region of patients with neovascular and non-neovascular central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods Forty-one patients with chronic CSC (41 eyes, observation group)were selected, including 19 cases of neovascular CSC (19 eyes, neovascular CSC)and 22 cases of non-neovascular CSC (22 eyes, non-neovascular CSC), and meanwhile, 41 normal subjects (41 eyes)were selected as the control group. The macular choroidal and retinal vascular density indicators [superficial retinal capillary layer vascular density (SVD), deep retinal capillary layer vascular density (DVD), choroidal blood capillary layer blood flow density (CFD), foveal density in a 300 μm region around foveal avascular zone (FD300)］and the macular choroidal and retinal morphological and structural indicators［foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ circumference, acircularity index (AI), ganglion cell complex (GCC)thickness, retinal outer nuclear layer thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), incidence of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and incidence of doublelayer sign］were compared in the two groups, and then we analyzed the correlations between indexes. Results Compared with the control group, the choroidal CFD and retinal FD300, GCC thickness, and outer nuclear layer thickness decreased, while the retinal FAZ area, FAZ circumference, AI and choroidal SFCT increased in the observation group (all P<0. 05). Compared with non-neovascular CSC patients, the thickness of the outer nuclear layer decreased, and the incidence of double-layer sign increased in the neovascular CSC patients (all P<0. 05). In the observation group, choroidal CFD was negatively correlated with retinal FD300, GCC thickness, and outer nuclear layer thickness；choroidal SFCT was negatively correlated with retinal outer nuclear layer thickness (all P<0. 05). Conclusions Compared with ordinary people, the choroid CFD, FD300, GCC thickness and outer nuclear layer thickness significantly decreased in the macular region of chronic CSC patients, and the FAZ area, FAZ circumference, AI and SFCT increased considerably. Compared with non-neovascular CSC patients, the outer nuclear layer thickness significantly decreased in neovascular CSC patients, and the incidence of the double-layer sign significantly increased. There were correlations between macular choroidal indexes and macular retinal indexes in patients with chronic CSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total 53 eyes of 42 NPDR patients with moderate severity of DR who visited the Department of Ophthalmology of the Second Affiliate Hospital of Nanchang University from June 2018 to July 2020 were enrolled and all patients provided written informed consent. Studies have shown that the long eye axis is a protective factor for DR, and the mechanism may be related to the changes in retinal blood flow density.2-4 However, the retinal and choroidal blood flow density of DR patients with different axial lengths have not been reported. Keywords: diabetic retinopathy; axial length; optical coherence tomography angiography; retinal vascular density; choroidal thickness EN diabetic retinopathy axial length optical coherence tomography angiography retinal vascular density choroidal thickness 3895 3902 8 05/11/22 20220401 NES 220401 Introduction Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an eye disease that may lead to blindness.[1] The macula is the most sensitive area of vision, and the changes in the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) can reflect the ischemia of the retina. Interestingly, a recent study explored the potential of wide-field swept-source OCTA (WF SS-OCTA) for the diagnosis and management of DR because the updated DR staging system has the ability to correlate detailed vascular and structural pathology over time with longitudinal imaging.[26] The development of this system may help monitor axial length and its effect on perfusion metrics. [Extracted from the article]

Angio-OCT clearly presents the blood supply to the retinal vascular plexus in the macular area. The purpose of this study is to compare the data received from the examination of the vascular microvascular network in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Vascular density and perfusion have been found to be important indicators in diagnosing and monitoring disease progression.

Importance: Understanding the pathophysiology of the macula in amblyopic eyes is an active research area., Objective: To correlate macular retinal vascular density changes with best-corrected visual acuity changes following occlusion therapy for amblyopia in children., Design: A prospective cohort study of children visiting the Pediatric Ophthalmology Division of our institution between January 2020 and January 2022 was conducted., Setting: A specialist eye hospital in Saudi Arabia., Participants: Thirty children with unilateral amblyopia., Exposure: Occlusion therapy for amblyopia.Main Outcome and Measures: Best corrected visual acuity (logMAR) before and at each of the four optical coherence tomographic angiographies was compared in amblyopic and fellow eyes. The effect of pretreatment determinants on the correlation between best-corrected visual acuity and retinal vascular density changes was reviewed., Results: In this cohort of 30 amblyopic and 30 fellow eyes from 30 children (mean age 8.7 ± 1.4 years; male: female 18:12. The best-corrected visual acuity improved from a median of 0.6 (interquartile range 0.5; 1.1) pretreatment to a median of 0.4 (interquartile range 0.2; 0.6) posttreatment in amblyopic eyes, and from a median of 0.1 to 0.05 in the fellow eyes. The total percentage change in retinal vascular density in the amblyopic eye was significantly higher than that in the fellow eye ( Z  = -1.92, P  = 0.05). The change in best-corrected visual acuity in the amblyopic eye after a median of 98 months (interquartile range, 69-126 months) of intervention was significantly correlated with the refraction-adjusted change in retinal vascular density ( B  = -0.03, 95 % confidence interval -0.04, -0.02, P  < 0.001) and was influenced by strabismus ( B  = -0.46, 95 % confidence interval -0.59, -0.34, P  < 0.001), type of amblyopia ( B  = 0.24, 95 % confidence interval 0.12, 0.36, P  < 0.001), duration of occlusion ( B  = -0.43, 95 % confidence interval -0.65, -0.22, P  < 0.001), and occlusion compliance ( B  = 0.24, 95 % confidence interval 0.11, 0.36, P  < 0.001)., Conclusions: and Relevance: The RVD in amblyopic eyes in the first six months of therapy was significantly lower than that in fellow eyes, but not in subsequent assessments., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is one of the leading global causes of death and severe disability. To date, retinal microangiopathy has become a reflection of cerebral microangiopathy, mirroring the vascular pathological modifications in vivo. To evaluate the retinal structure and microvasculature in patients with CeVD, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and Department of Neurology of Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). CeVD patients (n = 121; 238 eyes) and healthy controls (n = 44; 57 eyes) were included in the analysis. The CeVD group showed significant thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the temporal and nasal quadrants, and thinning of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) in the inferior quadrant, while macular microvasculature reduction was prominent in all nine quadrants. There were significant correlations between OCTA parameters, visual acuity, and transcranial doppler parameters in the CeVD group. The specific structural parameters combining microvasculature indices showed the best diagnostic accuracies (AUC = 0.918) to discriminate CeVD group from healthy controls. To conclude, we proved that OCTA reveals specific patterns of retinal structural changes and extensive macular microvascular changes in CeVD. Additionally, these retinal abnormalities could prove useful disease biomarkers in the management of individuals at high risk of debilitating complications from a cerebrovascular event.

To compare the retinal vasculature of septic patients with age-matched healthy volunteers. This is a single-centre prospective observational study from January 2018 to May 2019 in a third-level ICU. We performed a single fundus imaging using a hand-held digital fundus camera in patients with sepsis or septic shock (n = 40) during the first 24 h after ICU admission and compared these data with age-matched healthy controls (n  =  20). Semi-automated image analysis was performed. The average retinal arteriolar and venular caliber were calculated and summarized as the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE). Arteriole:venular ratio (AVR) was defined as the ratio of CRAE:CRVE. The vascular length density of segmented retinal vessels was = defined as the skeletonized vessel area/total area × 100%. Median CRAE of septic patients was significantly higher in comparison to healthy controls (165[149-187] vs. 146[142-158] µm, p = 0.002). However, median CRVE and AVR of septic patients did not differ with healthy controls (247[223-282] vs. 244[215-272], p = 0.396 and 0.64[0.58-0.74] vs. 0.61[0.55-0.68], p = 0.145) respectively. Patients with sepsis showed a significant decrease in retinal vascular length density compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.001). Retinal observation using a hand-held fundus imaging device showed signs of arteriolar vasodilation with decreased vascular density in septic patients in comparison to healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We aimed to investigate vessel densities retinal, choroidal, and optic disc vascular changes using OCTA in obese patients. • The whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vascular density values of the SCP and those of the DCP were statistically significantly lower in the obese group. • Statistically significant negative correlations were found between BMI and the whole, parafoveal and perifoveal vascular densities of the SCP and DCP and the density values of the optic disc for all vessels and small vessels. To evaluate optic disc and retinal vascular densities in obese patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This study included 27 eyes from 27 obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥35 who were scheduled for bariatric surgery at the general surgery clinic and 26 eyes from 26 healthy individuals with a BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m2 who were of similar age and gender to the obese group. The macular vascular densities of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP, respectively), choriocapillaris flow area, optic disc peripapillary vascular density, and retinal thicknesses were evaluated using the OCTA device in obese patients and controls. The mean age of the obese patients was 35.89 ± 10.93 years, and that of the controls was 32.31 ± 7.88 years (p = 0.199). The mean BMI values of the obese and control groups were 45.04 ± 6.89 kg/m2 and 23.19 ± 1.66 kg/m2, respectively (p < 0.0001). The whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vascular density values of the SCP and those of the DCP were statistically significantly lower in the obese group than in the control group (p = 0.004, p = 0.011, p = 0.006, p = 0.036, p = 0.029, and p = 0.024, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of optic disc vascular density. Full retinal perifoveal thickness, full retinal perifoveal volume, inner retinal perifoveal thickness, and inner retinal perifoveal volume were statistically significantly lower in obese patients compared to the controls (p = 0.043, p = 0.042, p = 0.027, and p = 0.024, respectively). In addition, statistically significant negative correlations were found between BMI and the whole, parafoveal, and perifoveal vascular densities of the SCP and DCP and the whole vascular density values of the optic disc for all vessels and small vessels ​​(p = 0.017, r = -0.327; p = 0.043, r = -0.280; p = 0.033, r = -0.293; p = 0.034, r = -0.291; p = 0.017, r = -0.327; p = 0.023, r = -0.311; p = 0.031, r = -0.296; and p = 0.047, r = -0.274, respectively). We consider that the decrease in retinal vascular density and retinal thickness in obese patients is responsible for obesity-induced oxidative stress, increased inflammatory cytokines, and microvascular damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients with COVID-19 had larger FAZ areas and lower VDs in both SCP and DCP, which remained after three months of follow-up. • The CVI was significantly less in the patients' group than control. • Patients demonstrated decreasing vascular densities in the DCP, but not SCP, even after healing of the infection was complete. Nonetheless, FAZ area, CVI, and subfoveal CHT have not been affected by the time lapsed from infection. • The subfoveal CHT was inversely correlated with the FAZ area and directly correlated with the SCP and DCP VDs. To compare the retinal vascular density (VD), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choroidal thickness (CHT) between patients infected with COVID-19 and healthy subjects using non-invasive optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and enhanced depth imaging OCT (EDI-OCT) technique. This case-control study was carried out on patients with COVID-19 and healthy controls. Patients' data were acquired immediately after active infection and three months later. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and a positive PCR test. VDs in superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP) and CHT and CVI were measured and compared between groups. A total of 160 eyes from 80 patients (55% female, mean age 51 ± 13 years) and 80 controls (55% female, mean age 49 ± 12 years) were enrolled. In acute phase infection, the mean foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area was 0.28 ± 0.06 mm2 and 0.22 ± 0.05 mm2 in patient and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). CVI was 61.06 ± 2.59 µm and 72.28 ± 3.84 µm in patients and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). After three months, the mean FAZ area was 0.28 ± 0.06 mm2 and 0.23 ± 0.05 mm2 in the patient and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). CVI was 60.93 ± 2.11 µm and 72.46 ± 3.80 µm in patients and control groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Subfoveal CHT was not significantly different between groups (P = 0.69). SCP and DCP VDs were significantly less in the patients' group (P < 0.001). In the patients' group, the VDs in the DCP of the whole images and parafoveal DCP (P < 0.001) were reduced significantly after three months in comparison to the acute phase, while the FAZ area, subfoveal CHT, and CVI were not significantly different. COVID-19 infection may be associated with acute and long-term changes of VDs in the retinal and choroidal vasculature without significant effect on the subfoveal CHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the alterations of the retinal microvasculature and foveal avascular zone in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A)., Methods: A retrospective study of PD patients examined in the Ophthalmology Department of the General Hospital of Athens, "Georgios Gennimatas" from March 2021 to March 2022 was conducted. Totally 44 patients with PD were included and 18 healthy controls were examined, hence a total of 124 eyes were enrolled in the study. The foveal and parafoveal superficial and deep capillary plexus vascular density (fSCP-VD, fDCP-VD, pSCP-VD, pDCP-CD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were quantified with OCTA. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure macular thickness. Our statistical analysis was conducted by using a mixed effect linear regression model., Results: After adjustment for age and gender, the mean parafoveal superficial capillary plexus vascular density (pSCP-VD) and mean parafoveal deep capillary plexus vascular density (pDCP-VD) were significantly decreased in individuals with PD ( P <0.001 in both) by -2.35 (95%CI -3.3, -1.45) and -7.5 (95%CI -10.4, -4.6) respectively. fSCP-VD and fDCP-VD didn't approach statistical significance. The FAZ area and perimeter were significantly decreased ( P <0.001 in both) by -0.1 mm 2 (95%CI -0.13, -0.07) and -0.49 mm 2 (95%CI -0.66, -0.32) respectively. Circularity didn't approach statistical significance. Central retinal thickness (CRT) was significantly decreased in individuals with PD ( P <0.001) by -23.1 µm (95%CI -30.2, -16) and temporal retinal thickness (TRT) was decreased ( P =0.025) by -11 µm (95%CI -22, -1.5) while nasal retinal thickness (NRT) only approached statistical significance ( P =0.066)., Conclusion: The mean pSCP-VD, pDCP-VD, CRT and TRT are significantly decreased and FAZ is altered in individuals with PD. These findings can be potentially used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and evaluation of early PD., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

Angio-OCT clearly presents the blood supply to the retinal vascular plexus in the macular area. The purpose of this study is to compare the data received from the examination of the vascular microvascular network in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Vascular density and perfusion have been found to be important indicators in diagnosing and monitoring disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To measure the density of retinal vessels from digitized fundus photographs in patients with recent stroke and age-matched controls. To investigate whether the parameter retinal vascular density (RVD) served as a quantitative marker for cerebrovascular events. Methods: Digitized fundus photographs of n = 158 subjects with stroke or transient ischemic attack within 1 year at the time of examination and n = 1,250 age-matched controls without any remarkable medical history were examined. Sex, hypertension, and diabetes were considered to be cofactors. Measurement of RVD was performed with a computer-aided image-analyzing program by segmenting automatically all visible retinal vessels and measuring areas of vessels in distinct circles around the optic disk. Results: In controls RVD dwindles with increasing distance from the optic disk. RVD decreased significantly with age (p = 0.000). Stroke patients showed significantly lower values of RVD of –15% in comparison to age-matched controls. In old subjects, stroke in combination with hypertension is associated with a significant decreased RVD, and in middle-aged subjects diabetes and stroke are associated with a significant decreased RVD (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Age and stroke are significant risk factors for decreased RVD. Diabetes and arterial hypertension are additional significant risk factors in patients with stroke with respect to RVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Several adverse ocular posterior segment events reported following COVID-19 vaccination. • Color doppler imaging has long been used to assess retrobulbar hemodynamics in retinal diseases. • Optical coherence tomography angiography and color doppler ultrasonography can be used for early detection of postvaccination microvascular abnormalities caused by thromboembolic events, increased local ischemia or inflammation. We aimed to investigate the early effects of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on retrobulbar vascular blood flow and retinal vascular density in healthy subjects. Thirty-four eyes of 34 healthy volunteers who received the CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China) were included in this prospective study. Resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and the temporal and nasal posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) were evaluated with color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) before vaccination, at the 2nd and 4th weeks after vaccination. Superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel density (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), and choriocapillaris blood flow (CCF) measurements were made using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). When compared to the pre-vaccination values, there was no significant change in OA-PSV, temporal-nasal PCA-PSV, CRA-EDV, temporal-nasal PCA-EDV at 2nd and 4th weeks after vaccination. However statistically significant reductions were found in the OA-RI, OA-PI, CRA-RI, CRA-PI, temporal-nasal PCA-RI, temporal-nasal PCA-PI values, CRA-PSV at post-vaccination 2nd week (p <0.05 for all). While there was sustained reduction in OA-RI, OA-PI, CRA-PSV, and nasal PCA-RI values at 4th week after vaccination, the change in CRA-RI, CRA-PI, temporal PCA-RI, temporal-nasal PCA-PI values were not significant compared to pre-vaccination values. There was no statistically significant difference in the SCP-VD, DCP-VD, FAZ and CCF measurements. Our findings demonstrating that CoronaVac vaccine did not affect retinal vascular density in the early period, but it caused alterations in the retrobulbar blood flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that enables to acquire high-resolution images of the retinal vascular network. • Vascular effects of obesity, which is considered as a metabolic disease, are also well known. • However there is a dispute in the literature about the effects of obesity on choroidal thicknesses. • To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to comprehensively compare choroidal thicknesses, retinal vascular indexes, and FAZ measurements within and simultaneously with BMI groups. • There are very few studies in the literature investigating the effects of BMI to choroidal and retinal vessels. The present study explores the effects of Body Mass Index (BMI) on choroidal thickness, the deep and superficial retinal capillary plexuses, and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). The subjects in this prospective study were divided into five groups based on their calculated BMI. Choroidal thickness, superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses, and FAZ were measured using enhance depth imaging (EDI) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The groups were then compared and correlations with BMI were evaluated. The study included 210 eyes of 105 subjects. The comparison of the BMI groups revealed a significant decrease in the mean choroidal thicknesses in the obese groups (p = 0.001), and a significant negative correlation between BMI and mean choroidal thickness (p = 0.02). The results of the analysis of the mean superficial and deep retinal capillary plexuses did not differ between the groups (p = 0.089, p = 0.808 respectively), while the deep FAZ measurements revealed a significant decrease in the obese groups (p = 0.003). Choroidal thickness and deep FAZ are significantly negatively correlated with BMI, suggesting potential choroidal and retinal microvascular effects of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the macular structure and microcirculation in both eyes of the patients with myopic anisometropia.Methods Optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)was employed to scan the macular areas in both eyes of 44 patients with myopic anisometropia.The patients were assigned into high and low groups based on the refractive diopter,and the parameters such as retinal thickness,choroidal thickness,vascular density,and perfusion density in the macular areas of both eyes were compared between the two groups.Results Other macular areas except the central and external nasal areas and the choroid of the fovea in the high group were thinner than those in the low group(all P <0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in retinal vascular density or perfusion density in different areas between the two groups(all P >0.05).Conclusion In the patients with myopic anisometropia,most areas of the retina in the case of high myopia is thinner than that in the case of low myopia,while there is no difference in retinal vascular density or perfusion density in both eyes.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship among changes in corneal topography, retinal vascular density, and retinal thickness in myopic children who underwent orthokeratology for 3 months., Method: Thirty children with myopia wore orthokeratology lenses for 3 months. Using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), the retina was imaged as 6 × 6 mm en-face images at baseline and 3 months after orthokeratology. Cornea data was acquired by topography and analyzed by customer MATLAB software. The cornea was divided into 3 zones and 9 sectors. The relative corneal refractive power shift (RCRPS) was used in this study. Changes in retinal vascular density (RVDC) and retinal thickness change (RTC) were associated with RCRPS by using spearman test. Statistical significance was set at p  < 0.05., Result: A significant correlation was observed between the RVDC and the RCRPS in many regions (the r was 0.375 ~ 0.548, all p value <0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between RVDC in inner and outer temple regions with RCRPS at inner and outer nasal sectors. There were no significant correlations between RTC and RCRPS in other sectors except in the central cornea and the outer nasal retina ( r :0.501, p :0.006). At baseline and 3 months after wearing the orthokeratology lens, no significant differences in the retinal microvasculature or thickness ( p > 0.05) were observed at any regions., Conclusion: The correlation between the cornea and the retina was observed after orthokeratology. Cornea changes may affect regional retinal responses accordingly，which may explain how orthokeratology delays myopia progression partially., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Lian, Lu, Xu, Chen, Lu, Zhou, Mei, and Jin.)

The increased Knowledge of the multifactorial origin of glaucoma, and especially the vascular involvement in normotensive glaucoma, can be seen in the high number of publications on this subject in recent years, which obliges us to review its diagnosis and treatment., (Copyright © 2023 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To examine the effects of chronic smoking on vascular density in superficial and deep retinal vascular plexuses and choroidal thicknesses., Method: Superficial and deep vessel densities and choroidal thicknesses of smoking volunteers and healthy non-smoking volunteers were measured with the Topcon DRI OCT-1 Tritron® device and compared with each other., Results: This study included 108 eyes of 54 smoking volunteers and 108 eyes of 54 healthy volunteers as a control group. The average superficial vascular density index and deep vascular density indexes of smokers were found to be 39.81 ± 1.5% and 42.53 ± 1.9%, respectively (P = 0.53), while the non-smoking control group was 40.09 ± 1.3% and 41.57 ± 1.6%, respectively (P = 0.006). Average choroidal thicknesses were 284.22 ± 59 in smokers and 270.72 ± 61 in the control group (P = 0.247). Also, smoking quantity per day x years was found to be significantly negatively correlated with average choroidal thicknesses. (P = 0,011)., Discussion: In this study, it was determined that chronic smoking increases deep retinal vascular densities on retinal vascular plexus. However, the cumulative effect of smoking was found to be negatively correlated with choroidal thicknesses. Smoking has microvascular effects on vessels such as vasodilatation, vasoconstriction, increased platelet aggregation, endothelial dysfunction. However, studies in the literature are in dispute with the effects of smoking on choroidal and retinal vessels. This study may show that chronic smoking may have different vascular effects on the superficial and deep plexuses and choroidal vessels, as well as different effects from acute use.

The influence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression and severity on the structural and functional integrity of the cerebral vasculature is well recognized. The retina is an extension of the brain; thus, changes in retinal vascular features may serve as markers of AD cerebrovascular pathologies. However, differentiating normal aging-versus AD-induced retinal vascular changes is unresolved. Therefore, we compared and quantified changes in superficial (SVP), intermediate (IVP), and deep (DVP) retinal vascular plexuses in young, middle-age, and old triple transgenic mouse model of AD (3xT-AD) to the changes that occur in age-matched controls (C57BL/6j). We used immunostaining combined with a novel tissue optical clearing approach along with a computational tool for quantitative analysis of vascular network alterations (vessel length and density) in SVP, IVP, and DVP. All three layers had comparable structural features and densities in young 3xTg-AD and control animals. In controls, IVP and DVP densities decreased with aging (−14% to −32% change from young to old, p < 0.05), while no changes were observed in SVP. In contrast, vascular parameters in the transgenic group decreased in all three layers with aging (−12% to −49% change from young to old, p < 0.05). Furthermore, in the old group, SVP and DVP vascular parameters were lower in the transgenics compared to age-matched controls (p < 0.05). Our analysis demonstrates that normal aging and progression of AD lead to various degrees of vascular alterations in the retina. Specifically, compared to normal aging, changes in vascular features of SVP and DVP regions of the retina are accelerated during AD progression. Considering recent advances in the field of depth-resolved imaging of retinal capillary network and microangiography, noninvasive quantitative monitoring of changes in retinal vascular network parameters of SVP and DVP may serve as markers for diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease and discriminating AD-induced vascular attenuation from age-related vasculopathy. • Superficial, intermediate, and deep retinal vascular plexuses were quantified in young, middle-aged, and old 3xTg-AD and control mice. • Normal aging and Alzheimer's disease progression exhibits various degrees of vascular alterations in the retina. • Superficial and deep vascular plexus density was lower in old transgenic animals compared to age-matched controls. • Noninvasive quantitative monitoring of retinal vasculature may discriminate AD-induced vascular attenuation from age-related vasculopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) is one of the leading global causes of death and severe disability. To date, retinal microangiopathy has become a reflection of cerebral microangiopathy, mirroring the vascular pathological modifications in vivo . To evaluate the retinal structure and microvasculature in patients with CeVD, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and Department of Neurology of Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). CeVD patients ( n = 121; 238 eyes) and healthy controls ( n = 44; 57 eyes) were included in the analysis. The CeVD group showed significant thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the temporal and nasal quadrants, and thinning of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) in the inferior quadrant, while macular microvasculature reduction was prominent in all nine quadrants. There were significant correlations between OCTA parameters, visual acuity, and transcranial doppler parameters in the CeVD group. The specific structural parameters combining microvasculature indices showed the best diagnostic accuracies (AUC = 0.918) to discriminate CeVD group from healthy controls. To conclude, we proved that OCTA reveals specific patterns of retinal structural changes and extensive macular microvascular changes in CeVD. Additionally, these retinal abnormalities could prove useful disease biomarkers in the management of individuals at high risk of debilitating complications from a cerebrovascular event., (Copyright © 2020 Zhang, Xiao, Liu, Liu, Zhao, Wang, Wang, Wang, Zhu, Chen, Wu, Lin, Qiu, Yu-Wai-Man, Lu and Lin.)