Evaluation of retinal and optic disc properties by optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: Toevaluate the retina and optic disc parametersin patients with retinal vein occlusion by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)andcompare them with the control group, and examine the relationship between visual acuity and age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 104 right eyes of 104 (female: 50, male: 54) subjects were included in the study. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 53 RVT patients and 51 control groups, together with the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel densities (VD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) measurements, outer retina ( DR), choriocapillaris (CC) flow fields (AA), whole area peripapillary vessel density (TA-PPDY), peripapillary vessel density (PPDI) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) values obtained by OCTA measurements were compared between the groups.The correlations between visual acuity, age and OCTA parameters were examined. RVT patients were divided into subgroups according to the treatment applied and the accompanying risk factor status, and the groups were compared in terms of OCTA parameters. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between genders in terms of RVT frequency and OCTA measurements. BCVA was significantly lower in the RVT group compared to the control group (p<0.001). It was found that SCP and DCP VD measurements outside the foveal region, FD value among the FAZ variables were significantly lower in the RVT group compared to the control group (p <0.001 for all). In addition, it was observed that CC-FA, RNFL thickness, WI-PPVD and PPVD variables were affected in RVT group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the width of the FAZ. Significantly lower WI-PPVD and PPVD measurements were observed in patients with RVT treated with laser photocoagulation therapy (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that RVT and its treatment modalities may effects on peripapillary vascular densities, choriocapillaris flow area, RNFL values in addition to macular vascular density measurements.