Clinical characteristics of choroidal microvasculature dropout in normal-tension glaucoma versus nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Abstract

The present study investigated the characteristics of choroidal microvasculature dropout (CMvD) in eyes with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) versus those in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). This study included 27 NAION, 27 NTG, and 27 healthy control subjects. CMvD was observed in 15 eyes (55.6%) of the NAION group and 20 (74.1%) of the NTG group. The area and angular width of CMvD were significantly greater in eyes with NAION (0.278 ± 0.172 mm² and 86.5 ± 42.3°) than in those with NTG (0.138 ± 0.068 mm² and 35.1 ± 16.2°, p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). CMvD in eyes with NAION were distributed in 120-250° and most frequently located at the temporal region, while CMvD in eyes with NTG showed double peaks at 220-280° and 110-140° and most frequently located at the inferotemporal region. The factors associated with the discrimination of NAION from NTG were greater area of CMvD (OR, 1.181; 95% CI, 1.021-1.366; p = 0.025) and location closer to the temporal region of the CMvD (OR, 0.904; 95% CI, 0.838-0.975; p = 0.009). The clinical characteristics of CMvD differed between eyes with NAION and those with NTG. Optical coherence tomography angiography may provide an additional approach to differentiating glaucoma from NAION.