%0 Journal Article
%T Automated evaluation of parapapillary choroidal microvasculature in crowded optic discs: a controlled, optical coherence tomography angiography study.
%A Arda H
%A Sener H
%A Temizyurek O
%A Sonmez HK
%A Gulmez Sevim D
%A Evereklioglu C
%A Horozoglu F
%A Gunay Sener AB
%J Int J Ophthalmol
%V 17
%N 1
%D 2024
%M 38239958
%F 1.645
%R 10.18240/ijo.2024.01.15
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To compare superficial and deep vascular properties of optic discs between crowded discs and controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Thirty patients with crowded discs, and 47 control subjects were enrolled in the study. One eye of each individual was included and OCT-A scans of optic discs were obtained in a 4.5×4.5 mm2 rectangular area. Radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, cup volume, rim area, disc area, cup-to-disc (c/d) area ratio, and vertical c/d ratio were obtained automatically using device software. Automated parapapillary choroidal microvasculature (PPCMv) density was calculated using MATLAB software. When the vertical c/d ratio of the optic disc was absent or small cup, it was considered as a crowded disc.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The mean signal strength index of OCT-A images was similar between the crowded discs and control eyes (P=0.740). There was no difference in pRNFL between the two groups (P=0.102). There were no differences in RPC density in whole image (P=0.826) and peripapillary region (P=0.923), but inside disc RPC density was higher in crowded optic discs (P=0.003). The PPCMv density in the inner-hemisuperior region was also lower in crowded discs (P=0.026). The pRNFL thickness was positively correlated with peripapillary RPC density (r=0.498, P<0.001). The inside disc RPC density was negatively correlated with c/d area ratio (r=-0.341, P=0.002).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>The higher inside disc RPC density and lower inner-hemisuperior PPCMv density are found in eyes with crowded optic discs.