The Relationship Between Retinal Vessel Oxygenation and Spatial Distribution of Retinal Nonperfusion in Retinal Vascular Diseases.

Purpose: We study the relationship between retinal vessel oxygenation and the spatial distribution of retinal nonperfusion using ultrawide field angiography in eyes with retinal vascular diseases.

Methods: This prospective single center study recruited 57 eligible eyes from 44 patients with retinal vascular diseases. Retinal oximetry measurements were obtained using the Oxymap T1 device to determine the arteriovenous (AV) difference. Retinal nonperfusion was measured from ultrawide field angiography images taken with the Optos 200TX system and superimposing the images with the concentric rings template to determine the area and distribution of retinal nonperfusion.

Results: Seven (12.3%) eyes had a diagnosis of a branch or hemiretinal vein occlusion, 24 (42.1%) with central retinal vein occlusion and 26 (45.6%) with diabetic retinopathy (11 [19.3%] nonproliferative and 15 [26.3%] proliferative diabetic retinopathy). The correlation between the total area of retinal nonperfusion with the AV difference controlling for age was not statistically significant (R = -0.103, P = 0.449). However, when analyzing the correlation of AV difference with the area of retinal nonperfusion in the posterior pole controlling for age and peripheral nonperfusion, this was significant (R = -0.295, P = 0.029). This was not significant for the area of retinal nonperfusion in the periphery while controlling for posterior pole nonperfusion and age (R = 0.124, P = 0.368).

Conclusions: Retinal nonperfusion has a negative correlation with AV difference measured on retinal oximetry. This correlation is significant in the posterior pole, but not in the peripheral retina.