Baseline Vessel Density Parameters for Predicting Visual Field Progression in Open-Angle Glaucoma Eyes With Central Visual Field Damage

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the baseline vessel density (VD) parameters that predict visual field (VF) progression in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) with central visual field (CVF) damage.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: This study enrolled 208 eyes from 208 consecutive patients with OAG with CVF damage at baseline and with a minimum 2 years of follow-up. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography was used to measure circumpapillary and macular VDs in the retina and parapapillary VD in the choroid (pCVD) at the baseline. The circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thicknesses were also measured as reference standards. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to identify the baseline clinical factors associated with VF progression according to the glaucoma stage. The relationships between the CVF mean sensitivity reduction rate during follow-up and the baseline clinical factors were evaluated.

Results: VF progression was detected in 54 eyes (26.0%) during 2.78 years of mean follow-up. A lower pCVD (hazard ratio = 0.916, P = .014) at baseline in early-stage OAG eyes and a reduced baseline average mGCIPL thickness (hazard ratio = 0.896, P = .001) in eyes with moderate to advanced glaucoma were independent predictors of VF progression. The baseline pCVD (β = 0.018, P = .028) in eyes with early-stage glaucoma and the baseline average mGCIPL thickness (β = 0.035, P = .013) in eyes with moderate to advanced glaucoma were significantly correlated with the rate (dB/y) of CVF mean sensitivity reduction.

Conclusion: In eyes with OAG with CVF damage, a lower baseline pCVD in early-stage glaucoma and a reduced mGCIPL thickness at baseline in moderate to advanced glaucoma are significantly associated with subsequent VF progression.