Introduction
Research indicates that assessing the microvasculature of the optic disc can be instrumental in detecting glaucoma progression, especially in individuals with high myopia. A recent study published in Ophthalmology examined this relationship by analyzing 118 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma and high myopia, alongside a matched group without high myopia.
Key Findings
Findings revealed that in highly myopic eyes, those experiencing visual field (VF) deterioration showed a more rapid decline in optic disc vessel density (ODVD), averaging a decrease of 3.96% annually, compared to 1.68% in non-progressors. Factors associated with VF progression included younger age, higher prevalence of optic disc hemorrhages, thinner baseline retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and faster ODVD reduction. Interestingly, the rate of RNFL thinning alone was not linked to VF progression in these patients.
Early Detection Potential
Furthermore, changes in ODVD could be detected approximately four to five months earlier than VF deterioration, suggesting its potential as an early indicator of glaucoma advancement. The authors highlight that in highly myopi...