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This abstract is assigned to session Poster session in O'Bistro

Title

Retinal oxygen metabolism in healthy subjects and glaucoma patients

Purpose	To study the role of ischemia/hypoxia in the pathophysiology of glaucoma in a prospective, clinical trial.
Methods	This was a 2 centre study where retinal vessel oxygen saturation was measured in glaucoma patients and healthy individuals with a non-invasive spectrophotometric retinal oximeter. Visual fields were obtained in the glaucoma patients. Statistical analysis was performed using a Student’s t-test.
Results	No statistical difference was found in retinal oxygen saturation in arterioles (p=0.16), in venules (p=0.12) and arteriovenous difference (AV) (p=0.39) whenglaucoma patients (n=74) were compared to healthy individuals (n=89). However, when patients with advanced glaucoma (visual field mean defect (MD≤-10dB, n=21) were compared to healthy individuals, the oxygen saturation in venules was higher (58%±5% vs. 54%±6%; p=0.005, mean ± standard deviation (SD)) and the AV difference was lower (36±5% vs. 40%±6%; p=0.02). In glaucoma patients with mild glaucoma (MD≥-5dB, n=33), compared to healthy individuals, no statistical differences were found in retinal oxygen saturation (p=0.26-0.99).
Conclusion	Glaucoma patients with severe glaucoma have higher oxygen saturation in venules and lower AV difference in oxygen saturation compared to healthy individuals. No difference is found between healthy individuals and glaucoma patients with mild visual field defects. The decreased AV difference in severe glaucoma may be related to lower oxygen consumption resulting from tissue atrophy in the retina.

Authors 1

Last name	VANDEWALLE
Initials	E
Department	UZLeuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	Olafsdottir
Initials	OB
Department	University of Iceland
City	Reykjavik

Authors 3

Last name	Pinto
Initials	LA
Department	Lisbon University
City	Lisbon

Authors 4

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	P
Department	UZLeuven
City	Leuven

Authors 5

Last name	Van Calster
Initials	J
Department	UZLeuven
City	Leuven

Authors 6

Last name	Zeyen
Initials	T
Department	UZLeuven
City	Leuven

Authors 7

Last name	Stefánsson
Initials	E
Department	University of Iceland
City	Reykjavik

Authors 8

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	UZLeuven
City	Leuven