Iris Thickness and Severity of Neovascular Glaucoma Determined Using Swept-Source Anterior-segment Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To investigate the iris thickness (IT) in neovascular glaucoma (NVG) using swept-source anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (ASOCT). Patients and Methods: In this retrospective, clinic-based, comparative study, we enrolled 20 NVG patients [11 with 360-degree angle-closure (AC)-NVG and 9 with NVG without AC] and 14 healthy age-matched controls. Horizontal scanning images of swept-source ASOCT were analyzed using software calipers in temporal and nasal angle areas. ITs at 1 and 2 mm from the pupil edge were measured using ASOCT. The relation between IT and the severity of NVG, the effects of intraocular pressure (IOP), intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection, and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) were assessed using linear regression analysis based on the corrected Akaike information criteria index. Results: The IT was thinner in 360-degree AC-NVG patients, followed by NVG patients without AC and controls (0.33 vs. 0.48 vs. 0.57mm at 1 mm and 0.31 vs. 0.43 vs. 0.49 mm at 2 mm; P < 0.001 by ANOVA). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that 360-degree AC-NVG patients-NVG patients without AC and controls (coefficient: -0.16), NVG patients without AC-control (-0.13) and underwent PRP (0.23) at 1 mm, 360-degree AC-NVG patients-NVG patients without AC and controls (-0.12), NVG patients without AC-controls (-0.08), underwent PRP (0.16), received anti-VEGF injection (0.05) and IOP (-0.001) at 2 mm were selected predictors to explain IT. Conclusions: IT decreases with the progression of the NVG stage and is thinnest in 360-degree AC-NVG patients. Our study suggests a new morphologic feature of NVG.