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Background It is critical to monitor the optic disc’s vessel density using Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and evaluate its determinants. In the current study, we investigate the superficial vessel density (VD) of the papillary microvasculature and its determinants in healthy subjects of Southern China. Methods This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Superficial VD in healthy individuals’ optic disc region was measured by OCTA. The factors associated with ocular and systemic parameters were analyzed using a generalized estimation equation (GEE) model. Results A total of 510 eyes of 260 healthy subjects were analyzed in the study. The total VD in the optic disc area was 17.21 ± 2.15 mm− 1 (95% CI, 17.02–17.40 mm− 1). The VD in the inner ring and the outer ring of the optic disc were significantly higher compared with the central ring, while the VD of the superior quadrant and inferior quadrant was significantly higher compared with the temporal and nasal quadrant. After adjusting for the ocular factors and systemic factors, AL (β = − 0.4917, P = 0.0003), disc area (β = − 0.3748, P = 0.0143), CMT (β = − 0.0183, P = 0.0003) and SSI (β = 1.0588, P Conclusion The mean total VD in the optic disc area was 17.21 ± 2.15 mm− 1 in healthy subjects, and the superior and inferior VD was significantly higher than the temporal and nasal VD. AL, disc area, CMT, and SSI may affect the total VD in the optic disc area and should be considered in clinical practice.

Purpose: To investigate superficial and deep retinal vessels, foveal avascular zone in patients affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to find whether any association between features on retinal vessel density and stage of AMD.Materials and Methods: Ninety-four patients enrolled in the study. Patients were divided according to AMD stages. Grade 1, no AMD; grade 2, early AMD; grade 3, intermediate AMD; grade 4 geographic atrophy (GA); and Grade 5, choroidal neovascularization (CNVM). All patients underwent an ophthalmologic evaluation, including optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). The main outcome measures were superficial vessel density, deep vessel density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ).Results: In grade 3 AMD eyes; the deep vessel density values were lower than grade 1 and grade 2 eyes. The fellow eyes of the patients with CNVM, the deep vessel density values were lower in grade 3 eyes than grade 1 and 2 eyes, the other parameters were not statistically different. The fellow eyes of the patients with grade 3, the vessel density, FAZ, AI did not show significant difference.Conclusion: Changes in retinal capillary vessel density, which can be detected with OCTA, begin at the intermediate stage AMD.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical significance of vessel density (VD) on visual field (VF) progression regarding the severity of glaucoma. Methods: A total of 130 eyes were recruited in this retrospective and longitudinal study. Superficial and deep VDs in circumpapillary and macular regions were measured via ImageJ. The rate of VF progression was defined as the mean deviation (MD) slope (dB/year). Linear regression was used to verify factors affecting deterioration of VF. The eyes with lower superficial VD were further analyzed. Results: Fifty patients with early glaucoma (EG) (MD &gt, −6 dB) and 52 patients with moderate-to-advanced glaucoma (MAG) (MD ≤ −6 dB) were included. A faster progression rate was found in MAG (p = 0.049). Superficial VD was noticeably related to the VF progression rate in total eyes and in MAG (Both Ps ≤ 0.007, respectively). With patients in the lower half of the superficial VD, the VD was significantly associated with the rate of progression (B, 0.049, p = 0.021). This association was independent of the baseline MD and OCT parameters. Conclusion: Decreased superficial VD might conversely affect the progression of glaucoma even in MAG, which suggests superficial VD could be used as a potential marker to foresee the disease progression even in progressed eyes.