Decreased retinal microvasculature densities in pterygium

Abstract

AIM: To investigate the retinal vascular network alterations in eyes of patients with pterygium. METHODS: Totally 18 left eyes from 18 female pterygium patients and 18 left eyes from 18 female healthy control subjects were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images were generated of the superficial retinal layer and deeper retinal layer of the macular retina for each eye. The microvascular (MIR) and macrovascular (MAR) densities were calculated and MIR, MAR, and total microvascular (TMI) density was compared in the healthy control and pterygium groups. RESULTS: In pterygium group, in the superficial retinal layer, the vascular density in superficial MIR, superior right (SR), inferior right (IR), right (R), superficial central annuli (SC)1, SC2, and SC3 decreased significantly in the macular area (P<0.05). Furthermore, the vascular density in all those decreased regions except R, was significantly and negatively correlated with the disease course (r=-0.6038 to -0.7762, P=0.0008), and the area size of pterygium (r=-0.6043 to -0.9508, P<0.05). For the deeper retinal layer, the density of deep total microvessel (DTMI), deeper MIR, SR, IR, R, DC2, and DC3 decreased significantly in macular area of pterygium patients (P<0.05). Furthermore, the vascular density in all those decreased regions was significantly and negatively correlated with the disease course (r=-0.6901 to -0.7795, P=0.0015), and the area size of pterygium (r=-0.6043 to -0.9563, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences and correlation was found in other region density (|r|<0.47, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: OCTA findings suggest that pterygium patients present with decreased retinal MIR density, and the major vascular alterations occurr mainly on the bitamporal side. The vascular density of the superficial SC1, SC2, SC3 adjacent to the foveal and deep layer of DC2, DC2 regions, significantly decreased.

Alterations in Macular Microvasculature in Pterygium Patients Measured by OCT Angiography

“…In contrast to our data, Wang et al [7] enrolled 18 left eyes from 18 female pterygium patients and 18 eyes from 18 female healthy controls. Using OCTA examinations, the authors observed decreased superficial microvascular density, mainly on the bitemporal side.…”

“…Moreover, multiple studies have revealed that pterygia and macular degeneration (MD) share a common affected population; namely, individuals exposed to solar radiation (SR) [6]. Recent investigations have demonstrated a reduction in macular retinal thickness and retinal microvasculature densities in patients with pterygia [7,8]. Until now, the alterations that occur in the macula microvascular of pterygium patients as well as the underlying mechanisms of development have remained to be elucidated.…”

Decreased Macular Retinal Thickness in Patients With Pterygium

“…In our previous study, there was also a decrease in vascular density (VD) in temporal subregion of pterygium ( 25 ). Retina and brain exhibit similar metabolic activities because they derive from the same embryonic tissue.…”

Artificial intelligence assisted pterygium diagnosis: current status and perspectives

“…Pterygium is a typical eye lesion that mainly occurs at the junction of the nasal conjunctiva and cornea, but can also occur at the junction of the temporal conjunctiva and cornea and may involve the accumulation of sclera tissue [17] . It usually appears as a triangular shape, with a gray-white or light-yellow color.…”