title: Visual Acuity Is Correlated with the Area of the Foveal Avascular Zone in Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusion.
abstract: To determine if the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is correlated with visual acuity (VA) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Ninety-five eyes of 66 subjects with DR (65 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (19 eyes), and central retinal vein occlusion (11 eyes).
  
  
  
  Structural optical coherence tomography (OCT; Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering) and OCT angiography (OCTA; Avanti, Optovue RTVue XR) data from a single visit were analyzed. FAZ area, point thickness of central fovea, central 1-mm subfield thickness, the occurrence of intraretinal cysts, ellipsoid zone disruption, and disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRIL) length were measured. VA was also recorded. Correlations between FAZ area and VA were explored using regression models. Main outcome measure was VA.
  
  
  
  Mean age was 62.9±13.2 years. There was no difference in demographic and OCT-derived anatomic measurements between branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion groups (all P ≥ 0.058); therefore, data from the 2 groups were pooled together to a single RVO group for further statistical comparisons. Univariate and multiple regression analysis showed that the area of the FAZ was significantly correlated with VA in DR and RVO (all P ≤ 0.003). The relationship between FAZ area and VA varied with age (P = 0.026) such that for a constant FAZ area, an increase in patient age was associated with poorer vision (rise in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity). Disruption of the ellipsoid zone was significantly correlated with VA in univariate and multiple regression analysis (both P < 0.001). Occurrence of intraretinal cysts, DRIL length, and lens status were significantly correlated with VA in the univariate regression analysis (P ≤ 0.018) but not the multiple regression analysis (P ≥ 0.210). Remaining variables evaluated in this study were not predictive of VA (all P ≥ 0.225).
  
  
  
  The area of the FAZ is significantly correlated with VA in DR and RVO and this relationship is modulated by patient age. Further study about FAZ area and VA correlations during the natural course of retinal vascular diseases and following treatment is warranted.
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: balaratnasingam@gmail.com.
authors: Chandrakumar
authors: C
authors: Balaratnasingam
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York.
authors: Maiko
authors: M
authors: Inoue
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors: Seungjun
authors: S
authors: Ahn
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors: Jesse
authors: J
authors: McCann
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors: Elona
authors: E
authors: Dhrami-Gavazi
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York.
authors: Lawrence A
authors: LA
authors: Yannuzzi
authors: LuEsther T. Mertz Retinal Research Center, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York, New York; Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York; Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors: K Bailey
authors: KB
authors: Freund
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity