Optical coherence tomography angiography: Unveiling the new entity in glaucoma diagnostics

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) is an emerging technology in the field of glaucoma, probably due to its role in potentiating early diagnosis as well as evaluating subtle positive effects after therapy. Being a noninvasive modality, it is gaining wide popularity in ophthalmic diagnostics. Recent studies have shown a decrease of different blood flow indices like peripapillary and macular vessel and perfusion density in glaucoma patients when compared to the normal population. It has been shown to have acceptable repeatability and reproducibility. This article aims to discuss the pros and cons of imbibing OCT-A in the armamentarium of glaucoma diagnostics. Furthermore, limitations and fears of such a step have been discussed along with the scope for further research areas. Its relative newness, cost inefficiency, and lack of normative data pose diagnostic dilemmas to glaucoma specialists. On the other hand, the never extinguished inquisitiveness of studying blood flow in glaucoma has been sustained by growing research in this field.

Keywords

• glaucoma
• optical coherence tomography angiography
• optical microangiography
• vessel density