title: Relationship of retinal vascular tortuosity with the neuroretinal rim: the singapore malay eye study.
abstract: PURPOSE. To describe the association of retinal vascular tortuosity, measured quantitatively, with the neuroretinal rim. METHODS. A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Malay persons aged 40 to 80 years residing in Singapore. Retinal vascular tortuosity was quantified by using a semiautomated, computer-assisted program assessing retinal fundus photographs, according to a standardized protocol. Optic disc measurements including disc area, rim area, and rim-to-disc area (RDA) ratio were obtained with a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. RESULTS. In analyses adjusting for age, sex, spherical equivalent, and retinal vascular caliber, reduced arteriolar and venular tortuosity were associated with a decrease in global RDA ratio (P = 0.006 and P = 0.001, respectively). When compared with the arterioles, retinal venular tortuosity demonstrated a stronger association with RDA ratio. The temporal-inferior region of the neuroretinal rim was most strongly associated with retinal vascular tortuosity. CONCLUSIONS. Straighter retinal vessels were significantly associated with a thinning neuroretinal rim. These findings may provide additional insights into the geometric retinal vascular changes seen in early glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Carol Yim-Lui
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Yingfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Tien Yin
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wanling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Tin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010781:Photography; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology