OCT angiography in a comprehensive assessment of hypotensive therapy effectiveness in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Degenerative changes in the retina of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients are developing as response to ischemia and chronic hypoxia accompanied by intolerant IOP. For this reason, the analysis of ocular blood flow changes in glaucoma monitoring, as well as the basic tests, should be considered an integral part of comprehensive examination of such patients.The purpose is to identify the most informative markers of the disease and to assess the effectiveness of its antihypertensive therapy by the fixed combination Dorzolamide / Timolol (Dorzopt Plus). Material and methods. 34 patients aged 68.44 ± 4.26 years with an advanced POAG stage and sub- or decompensated IOP were examined. The examination included optical coherence tomography in the angiography mode.Results. A stable average reduction in IOP by 35.1 % (by 8.6 ± 0.7 mm Hg, p < 0.05) as compared with the baseline was achieved. IOP normalization was accompanied by a stable increase in corneal hysteresis and perfusion pressure, a decrease in the average depth of the perimetric defect, and changes in chorioretinal blood flow.Conclusion. Changes in the choroid thickness and capillary density of the retinal peripapillary layer may be considered as the most informative biomarkers in the diagnosis of glaucoma and the evaluation of antihypertensive therapy effectiveness.

Keywords

• primary open-angle glaucoma
• oct angiography
• retinal blood flow
• radial peripapillary plexus