Assessments of vessel density and foveal avascular zone metrics in multiple sclerosis: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Background/Objectives: To investigate optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) findings of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) metrics and macular & peripapillary vessel densities (VD) in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: The study design was prospective and cross-sectional. FAZ metrics and VDs of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), retinal peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) along with the structural OCT measurements were scanned by using the Nidek’s RS-3000 Advance in MS patients and healthy controls. All subject also underwent an assessment of visual evoked potentials (VEPs). The relationships between the OCT-A parameters with other clinical findings were analysed. Results: Forty-seven MS patients (94 eyes) and 61 healthy volunteers (122 eyes) were included in this study. Thirty-five eyes of the MS patients had an ON history. The structural OCT measurements were significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.001). All FAZ metrics were inversely correlated with central foveal thickness (CFT) (P < 0.001). The FAZ area and perimeter were inversely correlated with the VD of both SCP and DCP (P < 0.05). The VDs of SCP and DCP were significantly differed between the study groups (P < 0.001). The VEP latency was inversely correlated with the retinal nerve fibre layer, macular and ganglion cell layer thicknesses, the VD of SCP, and the VD of the DCP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on OCT angiography, VDs of macular and peripapillary area may be useful in detecting damage from ON in patients with MS. © 2019, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.