[Morphometric changes in the choriocapillaris and choroid in eyes with advanced glaucoma damage].
BACKGROUND
In addition to elevated intraocular pressure, a compromised ocular blood supply has been implicated in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (PCOG).


METHODS
We analyzed 20 eyebank eyes with end-stage PCOG and compared these with 20 age-matched controls. The following variables were measured: density and diameter of large choroidal vessels in the macular and equatorial choroid; thickness of the choroid in the macular and equatorial region; and density and thickness of choriocapillaris in the macular, peripapillary, and equatorial choroid.


RESULTS
Eyes with glaucoma displayed a lower density of the capillaries of the choriocapillaris than control eyes in the macular, temporal peripapillary, and equatorial choroid, with 0.50 vs. 0.55 (P = 0.018), 0.46 vs. 0.51 (P = 0.016), and 0.50 vs. 0.55 (P = 0.038), respectively. Assessment of large choroidal vessels in the macular choroid showed that eyes with glaucoma had less density of veins (11.7 vs. 38.9/mm2; P < 0.001) and arteries (7.7 vs. 12.4/mm2; P = 0.005) and arteries with a higher diameter (45.6 vs. 28.2 microns; P < 0.001) than control eyes. The large vessels in the equatorial choroid displayed no significant difference in diameter but a lower density (21.2 vs. 44.1/mm2; P = 0.017) in eyes with glaucomatous damage than controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Eyes with advanced glaucomatous damage after long-standing PCOG exhibit many changes in the choroidal vasculature. We cannot conclude from our study whether the observed vascular changes in the choroid are primary pathogenic factors or secondary phenomena.
Spraul
C W
CW
Universitäts-Augenklinik und Poliklinik Ulm. christoph.spraul@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Lang
G E
GE
Grossniklaus
H E
HE
Lang
G K
GK
D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values