OCT angiography analysis of retinal vessel density in primary open-angle glaucoma with and without Tafluprost therapy

Abstract

Abstract Background Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease which leads to irreversible blindness. An elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is considered to be the main risk factor for the disease progression. It is known that retinal blood flow is altered in POAG eyes. Tafluprost, a prostaglandin analogue which lowers the IOP, has shown to also improve the retinal blood flow in animals. Methods The current study therefore evaluated the retinal vessel density in the peripapillary and macular region of POAG patients with normal IOP treated with topical Tafluprost (n = 20) compared to surgically treated patients with normal IOP (n = 22) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). The retinal flow density was obtained after binarisation and evaluated in five sectors. Results There was a significantly higher peripapillary flow density in all sectors in Tafluprost treated eyes when compared to post-surgery eyes. The flow density in the inferior sector of the superficial plexus in the macular region was also significantly higher in the Tafluprost group. Conclusions: These results indicate that Tafluprost not only lowers IOP, but may also enhance retinal blood flow in POAG patients with a normal IOP.

Keywords

• Primary open-angle glaucoma
• Optical coherence tomography angiography
• Tafluprost
• Retinal flow density
• Optic nerve head
• Macular region