Effect of Coronary Artery Diseases on Ocular Perfusion

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the ocular perfusion of patients with ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD) using optical coherence tomography angiography. Patients and methods: A total of 62 patients (49 male, 13 female; mean age: 62.9±9.1 years; range, 35 to 78 years) with a diagnosis of CAD were enrolled in this study. The data were compared with 61 healthy controls (35 male, 26 female; mean age: 68.1±3.9 years; range, 46 to 76 years). Coronary artery disease diagnosis was defined as patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention after coronary angiography. Optical coherence tomography angiography was used to assess the choroid thickness, superficial capillary plexus, and deep capillary plexus vascular density parameters of each patient. Results: Choroid thickness was lower in the CAD group compared to the control group, but this decrease was not statistically significant. The results showed a significant decrease in superficial capillary plexus and deep capillary plexus parameters in CAD patients compared to healthy controls. Conclusion: Patients with CAD showed decreased flow density compared to healthy controls. The study concludes that CAD patients exhibit reduced ocular perfusion, which can be detected using optical coherence tomography angiography. This noninvasive technique could be an effective tool for monitoring ocular perfusion and detecting vascular abnormalities in patients with CAD.