Quantitative assessment of retinal microvasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography and correlation with visual acuity in leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.

Qi Zhao, Ya Ma, Xiao Zhou, Ruikang Wang, Wenli Yang, Xiaoyan Peng, Wenbin Wei

Abstract readObservational Study

In one paragraph

Observational study in International ophthalmology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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7 authors.

Qi ZhaoBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Blinding Eye Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.

Ya MaBeijing Aier Eye Hospital, Beijing, 100101, China.

Xiao ZhouDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Ruikang WangDepartment of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Wenli YangBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Blinding Eye Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China.

Xiaoyan PengBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Blinding Eye Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China. 74000041@ccmu.edu.cn.

Wenbin WeiBeijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing key Laboratory of Intraocular Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Medical Artificial Intelligence Research and Verification Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Blinding Eye Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100730, China. weiwenbintr@163.com.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81570891National Natural Science Foundation of China 82171073

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo analyze macular microvascular networks and investigate correlations between visual acuity and quantitative parameters in patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

methodsAn observational, cross-sectional study was conducted, including 25 eyes from 25 genetically confirmed chronic LHON patients and 25 eyes from 25 age-matched healthy controls. Images were obtained using a spectral domain OCTA system. Student's t-test for independent variables was employed to compare continuous variables between the LHON and control groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze the correlation between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCTA parameters, which included vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), vessel diameter index (VDI), vessel complexity index (VCI), flux, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters, and the thickness of the general ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in LHON patients.

resultsLHON eyes exhibited significant reductions in VAD, VSD, and flux across all sectors in the foveal region. VAD, VSD, VCI, and flux decreased in all sectors, while VDI increased in all sectors except the temporal sector in the parafovea, based on the traditional four sectors. In the six sectors matched with the GCC, VAD, VSD, and flux decreased in all sectors; VDI increased in the superonasal, inferior, and inferotemporal sector, while VCI decreased except in the inferotemporal sector. The circularity of FAZ decreased. BCVA was correlated with VAD in the inferotemporal, inferior, and inferonasal sector, VSD in all sectors, and GCC thickness only in the inferonasal sector.

conclusionLHON is characterized by diffuse impairment of the retinal microvasculature, predominantly affecting the macular region and corresponding to the papillomacular bundle. Furthermore, BCVA demonstrated significant correlations with retinal blood flow and structural parameters.

Indexed as

Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, LeberRetinal VesselsVisual AcuityAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFluorescein AngiographyFundus OculiHumansMaleMicrovesselsMiddle AgedNerve FibersRetinal Ganglion CellsTomography, Optical CoherenceLeber’s hereditary optic neuropathyMacular blood flowMacular ganglion cell complex thicknessOptical coherence tomography angiographyRetinal nerve fiber layer

Identifiers

PMID40913669

DOI10.1007/s10792-025-03619-x

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.