Abstract
<jats:p>Introduction/Objective. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is ? chronic, progressive, optic neuropathy with possible blindness and irreversible changes in the optic nerve head (ONH). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is non-invasive method that provides structural glaucoma damage evaluation. OCT angiography (OCTA) provides qualitative and quantitative assessment of peripapillary microvasculature. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in peripapillary capillary vessel density in normal tension (NTG), POAG and healthy subjects. Methods. This prospective study included 120 eyes: 40 healthy eyes, 30 eyes with NTG and 50 eyes with POAG. Ophthalmological examination, central corneal thickness, OCT, OCT angiography (OCTA) also visual field were performed. Results. Vessel capillary density total (VCD total) is significantly higher in healthy compared to NTG and POAG (39.25?0.94 vs. 36.79?2.50 vs. 37.58?1.53; p<0,001). Peripapillary capillary vessel density (VCD perip.) is lower significantly in NTG and POAG in comparison with healthy subjects (39.21?2.62 vs. 40.18?1.35 vs. 41.29?0.81; p<0.001). VCD total is significantly lower in NTG compared to POAG (36.79?2.50 vs. 37.58?1.55; p<0,001). We found significantly positive correlation between OCT and OCTA parameters of ONH with mean deviation (MD) index in NTG between RNFL average with MD (r=0.370, p<0.05) also between VCD peripapillary inf. with MD (r=0.395, p<0.05). In POAG, we obtained a significantly positive correlation between VCD inf. with MD (r=0.277, p<0.05) also VCD inside disc with MD (r=0.395, p<0.01). Conclusion. Glaucoma patients have a significantly lower vessel density ONH and peripapillary capillary vessel density compared to healthy subjects. VCD total of ONH is significantly lower in NTG compared to POAG. We obtained a positive correlation between OCT and OCTA parameters with MD in NTG and POAG.</jats:p>