# Diagnosis and Monitoring of Glaucoma with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2020 · $503,669

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been introduced recently as a non-
invasive, 3-dimensional imaging method to visualize and quantify microvasculature throughout the
retina. The proposed study evaluates the clinical utility of OCTA measurements compared to
standard structural measurements of the optic nerve head (ONH), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)
and macula measured using the current clinical imaging standard, spectral domain optical coherence
tomography (SDOCT). Our research, and that of others, has shown that superficial retinal vessel
density (proportion of measured area composed of blood vessels) in the ONH region and macula is
less dense in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes than in healthy eyes. Moreover, diagnostic
accuracy is improved with increasing disease severity. Research from our laboratory suggests that the
diagnostic accuracy of vessel density is similar to that of SDOCT-measured RNFL thickness, and that
vessel density is reduced in retinal regions associated with localized visual field (VF) defects. These
cross-sectional results strongly suggest that OCTA measurements reflect damage to tissues relevant
to the pathophysiology of POAG. In a longitudinal study, moreover, the mean rate of change in
macula vessel density is significantly faster in POAG eyes than in glaucoma suspect or healthy eyes.
The current study provides a unique opportunity to extend for up to 8 years longitudinal OCTA data
that has already been collected from 250 eyes over 2 years, and to investigate vessel density change
over time in glaucoma suspect and POAG eyes, as well as to compare it to other imaging modalities
and glaucoma-related visual field change. The aims of the study are 1) to assess the longitudinal
temporal and topographic relationship in glaucoma between loss of superficial retinal vessel density,
loss of RNFL thickness, loss of neuroretinal rim width, and loss of ganglion cell complex (GCC)
thickness in glaucoma suspect and glaucoma eyes of varying disease severity, and 2) to assess the
longitudinal temporal and topographic relationship between superficial loss of macula and ONH
retinal vessel density, loss of RNFL thickness , loss of neuroretinal rim width, and loss GCC thickness
with the development and progression of central and peripheral VF defects in glaucoma. Comparison
of the time course of changes in vessel density relative to changes in RNFL thickness, neuroretinal
rim width, ganglion cell layer thickness and visual function will provide information about the
pathophysiology of glaucoma that can improve early detection and accurate monitoring of advanced
disease compared to currently available and widely accepted methods. Enhanced diagnosis and
detection of progression should lead to earlier and more effective treatment, thus reducing the rate of
disease worsening and preventing loss of vision-related quality of life (including blindness).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9921397
- **Project number:** 5R01EY029058-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT N WEINREB
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $503,669
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9921397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9921397, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Glaucoma with Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (5R01EY029058-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9921397. Licensed CC0.

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