Optical coherence tomography angiography of optic disc perfusion in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

AIM: To compare the optic disc blood flow of non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) eyes with normal eyes.

METHODS: The optic disc blood flow densities of diagnosed non-acute phase NAION eyes (21 eyes, 14 individuals) and normal eyes (19 eyes, 12 individuals) were detected via Optovue optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The optic disc blood flow was measured via Image J software. Correlations between optic disc perfusion and visual function variables were assessed by linear regression analysis.

RESULTS: The average percentage of the optic disc non-perfusion areas in the non-acute phase NAION patients (17.84%±6.18%) was increased, when compared to the normal control eyes (8.61%±1.65%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01). Moreover, there was a proportional correlation between the visual field mean defect (MD) and the optic disc non-perfusion area percentage, and the relationship was statistically significant (t=3.65, P<0.01, R(2)=0.4118). In addition, the critical correlation between the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the optic disc non-perfusion area percentage was statistically significant (t=4.32, P<0.01, R(2)=0.4957).

CONCLUSION: The optic disc non-perfusion area percentages detected via OCTA in NAION eyes were significantly increased when compared with the normal eyes. Both the BCVA and MD were correlated with the optic disc flow detected, revealing that OCTA may be valuable in the diagnosis and estimation of NAION.