Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT angiography) in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To summarize the evidence available on optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION).

Methods: Systematic searches were conducted on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar Databases. The quality assessment of the included studies was performed using Newcastle -Ottawa Scale. The data were extracted to an Excel sheet. Vessel density (VD) data were pooled by random effects model, presented as pooled percentage change (PPC), and weighted mean differences (WMD). Additional subgroup analysis was also conducted.

Results: In initial searches in online databases, we found 3535 citations, and after screening and checking the titles and abstracts, 26 articles were ultimately eligible for our meta-analysis. The overall PPC of Intra-optic-disc (IOD) VD (-10.73%; p = 0.017, I = 0.0%; p = 0.898) was lower than that of radial peripapillary (RP) VD (-17.57%; p < 0.001, I = 44.3%; p = 0.002). The overall PPC of peripapillary choroid VD (-6.99%; p < 0.001, I = 0.0%; p = 0.766) was significant, but noticeably lower than the pooled percentage change of RPVD and IOD VD. The WMD of RPVD was significant when non-affected fellow eyes were compared to the healthy subjects' eyes (-36.26; p < 0.001, I = 0.0%; p = 0.706).

Conclusions: The central retinal artery and its branches might be the main vessels which are affected in AION. The superficial retina was more affected than choroid layer in AION. Also, radial peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer was more affected than the IOD area. OCTA might be a suitable tool for prediction of AION in susceptible eyes.