Age-Related Alterations in the Retinal Microvasculature, Microcirculation, and Microstructure

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science Vol. 58; no. 9; pp. 3804 - 3817
• Main Authors: Wei, Yantao, Jiang, Hong, Shi, Yingying, Qu, Dongyi, Gregori, Giovanni, Zheng, Fang, Rundek, Tatjana, Wang, Jianhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 01.07.2017
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging - physiology; Blood Flow Velocity - physiology; Capillaries - anatomy & histology; Capillaries - physiology; Computed Tomography Angiography; Female; Fractals; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Microcirculation - physiology; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers - physiology; Retina; Retinal Ganglion Cells - cytology; Retinal Ganglion Cells - physiology; Retinal Vessels - anatomy & histology; Retinal Vessels - physiology; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1552-5783; 0146-0404; 1552-5783
• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-21460

To characterize age-related alterations in the retinal microcirculation, microvascular network, and microstructure in healthy subjects. Seventy-four healthy subjects aged from 18 to 82 years were recruited and divided into four age groups (G1 with age <35 years, G2 with age 35 ∼ 49 years, G3 with age 50 ∼ 64 years, and G4 with age ≥65 years). Custom ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography (UHR-OCT) was used to acquire six intraretinal layers of the macula. OCT angiography (OCTA) was used to image the retinal microvascular network. The retinal blood flow velocity (BFV) was measured using a Retinal Function Imager (RFI). Compared to G1, G2 had significant thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) (P < 0.05), while G3 had thinning of the RNFL and ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) (P < 0.05), in addition to thickening of the outer plexiform layer (OPL) and photoreceptor layer (PR) (P < 0.05). G4 had loss in retinal vessel density, thinning in RNFL and GCIPL, and decrease in venular BFV, in addition to thickening of the OPL and PR (P < 0.05). Age was negatively related to retinal vessel densities, the inner retinal layers, and venular BFV (P < 0.05). By contrast, age was positively related to OPL and PR (P < 0.05). During aging, decreases in retinal vessel density, inner retinal layer thickness, and venular BFV were evident and impacted each other as observed by simultaneous changes in multiple retinal components.