Quantitative analysis of vessel density in the optic disc and macular of patients with idiopathic optic neuritis

AIM: To assess the changes of vessel density in the optic disc and macular of the affected eye and the uninvolved contralateral eye in patients with idiopathic optic neuritis(ON)and to provide clinical guidance for the treatment and follow-up of idiopathic ON.METHODS: A total of 16 patients with first-episode monocular idiopathic ON ≤3 mo diagnosed between December 2019 and December 2021 were included in this cross-sectional study. The eye of patients was divided into 16 eyes in the affected eye group and 16 eyes in the uninvolved contralateral eye group, and 20 healthy age-matched eyes(n=20)served as controls. Optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)was performed in all eyes at 4.5 mm×4.5 mm region of the optical disc and 6 mm×6 mm region of the macular, and blood flow indicators were collected and compared. RESULTS: Compared with the control group and the uninvolved contralateral eye group, the density of all vessels and capillary were reduced in the whole area of optic disc, and all subdivisions of the peripapillary region in the ON group(all P