The aim of this study was to observe clinically macular vascular density and retinal thickness in retinal arterial obstruction patients with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

A retrospective study was conducted. 32 patients (32 eyes) with retinal artery obstruction were involved in this study. 24 patients (24 eyes) were male while 8 patients (8 eyes) were female, with age ranging from 40 to 83 and an average age at (62.4±12.6). The sick eyes were divided into test group while their own healthy eyes as the control group. OCTA was performed among all the patients. The superficial capillary layer (SCL) vascular density, the deep capillary layer (DCL) vascular density and the retinal thickness within 3 mm×3 mm area of the macular were recorded with OCTA. SCL and DCL vascular density within 6 mm×6 mm area were also recorded in branch retinal artery occlusion patients. SCL, DCL and retinal thickness were represented as mean±standard deviation. Independent samples t test was conducted for data comparison.

The main characteristics of retina artery occlusion on OCTA were thickening and enhanced reflex of inner layer of the retina, widened outer plexiform zone, destroyed fovea avascular zone, and distribution of capillaries. 22 patients (22 eyes) accouting for 68.8% (22/32), were central retinal artery occlusion patients. 10 patients (10 eyes) accouting for 31.2% (10/32), were branch retinal artery occlusion patients, with temporal branch retinal artery occlusion. SCL total vascular density in 3 mm×3 mm of the macular of the test group and control group were (40.00±5.74)% and (45.12±5.59)%, respectively. While DCL total vascular density in 3 mm×3 mm of the macular of the test group and control group were (41.16±5.86)% and (48.85±3.89)%, respectively. The vascular densities both in SCL and DCL were lower in test group with the significant differences between them through t test analysis(t=-3.539, -5.457; P<0.05). SCL fovea vascular density of the test group and control group were (21.28±9.55)% and (19.10±4.76)% , respectively. While DCL fovea vascular density of the test group and control group were (31.06±7.70)% and (29.14±6.43)%, respectively . Higher fovea vascular densities both in SCL and DCL were found in 14 patients (14 eyes) accouting for 43.8% (14/32). SCL and DCL perifovea vascular density in 6 mm×6 mm of the macular were (42.24±4.64)% and (41.02±5.71)%, respectively in sick eyes of branch retinal artery occlusion patients, among which lower vascular densities than the healthy eyes were found in 80% (8/10) patients. Lower temporal perifovea vascular densities in SCL and DCL were found in 90% (9/10) and 100% (10/10) patients, respectively. There was no significant difference between test group and control group in total retinal thickness (t=0.224, P>0.05).

OCTA could quantify retinal vascular density and retinal thickness in retinal artery occlusion patients, providing objective examination outcomes.