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Title	The importance of retrobulbar blood vessels in the peripapillary superficial blood flow. The Leuven Eye Study.
Abstract Nr.	2075

Purpose	To understand which retrobulbar blood vessels measured with colour Doppler imaging (CDI) are best associated with the peripapillary superficial perfusion and vessel density measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (angio-OCT).
Methods	One hundred and five patients from the Leuven Eye Study (36 healthy, 69 glaucoma patients) were evaluated both with CDI (Antares Sonoline®, Siemens®), as well as with angio-OCT of the optic disc (Angioplex®, Cirrus®, Zeiss®). While the angio-OCT is able to detect the erythrocyte flow (perfusion) as well as the amount of microvasculature on the superficial layers of the retina (vessel density), the CDI measures the retrobulbar vascular hemodynamics. Age, disease severity (measured through mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, OCT Cirrus®), scan quality and diagnosis of glaucoma were used as covariates in linear regression models for vessel density and perfusion, since they are known to influence the peripapillary vasculature.
Results	The significant CDI parameters were identical for both models and included the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistive index (RI) of the central retinal vein, and the RI and mean velocity of the systolic wave of the central retinal artery. The adjusted R2 ranged from 0.698 to 0.708.
Conclusion	The blood flow patterns of the central retinal vessels are important in predicting superficial peripapillary vessel density and perfusion as measured on angio-OCT, when correcting for age, disease severity, scan quality and diagnosis of glaucoma. Which OBF measuring device can more accurately detect disease conditions remains to be determined.
Conflict of interest	No

Authors 1

Last name	BARBOSA BREDA
Initials	J
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	VAN KEER
Initials	K
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 3

Last name	ABEGAO PINTO
Initials	L
Department	CHLN
City	Lisboa

Authors 4

Last name	VANDEWALLE
Initials	E
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 5

Last name	ROCHA SOUSA
Initials	A
Department	CHSJ
City	Porto

Authors 6

Last name	STALMANS
Initials	I
Department	UZ Leuven
City	Leuven