Normative Data Assessment of Age-related Changes in Macular and Optic Nerve Head Vessel Density Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Objective: To investigate macular and optic nerve head vessel density in healthy individuals using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and determine their relationship with age.

Method: This retrospective study included 153 eyes of 153 individuals aged between 20 and 80 years, who had no systemic diseases, optic disk, or retinal pathologies. The retinal (6 × 6 mm) and optic disk (4.5 × 4.5 mm) OCTA images were evaluated for superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and radial peripapillary capillary plexus (RPCP) vessel density, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and choriocapillaris flow area and compared among 5 age groups.

Results: The SCP vessel density was significantly associated with age for the whole image (P = 0.001), parafovea (P = 0.038), and perifovea (P/ce:italic>= 0.001). The DCP vessel density significantly varied with age in the whole image (P = 0.004), parafovea (P = 0.001), and perifovea (P = 0.002). The SCP and DCP vessel densities were significantly lower in the older age groups, and more prominently so after 50 years of age. The FAZ area increased with age; however, this finding was not statistically significant (P = 0.660). The choriocapillaris flow area decreased with age (P = 0.002). The RPCP vessel density in the inside disk significantly decreased with age (P = 0.038).

Conclusion: Age should be taken into consideration when using OCTA in the diagnosis and follow-up of retinal and optic nerve diseases. It is believed that the results here in can be used as a reference baseline for future studies.