Retinal Vessel Traits and Age-Related Eye Disease in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Public Health

Background:

• Retinal microvasculature characteristics are increasingly recognized as potential indicators for various eye diseases.
• Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are leading causes of vision impairment globally.
• Investigating the link between retinal vessel traits and these conditions is crucial for early detection and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between retinal vessel traits and glaucoma-related outcomes (glaucoma, cup-to-disc ratio [CDR], intraocular pressure [IOP]) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Main Methods:

• Utilized baseline and 3-year follow-up data from 30,097 participants in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.
• Employed the QUARTZ deep learning algorithm to extract retinal arteriolar and venular diameter and tortuosity from retinal images.
• Applied multiple linear and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for relevant covariates.

Main Results:

• Wider arterioles showed a cross-sectional association with lower odds of glaucoma, but this was not supported by longitudinal data, suggesting reverse causality.
• Increased venular tortuosity was longitudinally associated with a reduced 3-year risk of developing glaucoma and a decrease in CDR.
• Wider venular diameter was associated with higher odds of both prevalent and incident AMD at baseline and over 3 years.

Conclusions:

• The temporal relationship between retinal microvascular changes and the development of glaucoma and AMD requires further elucidation.
• Understanding these dynamic relationships may pave the way for novel treatment and prevention strategies for major eye diseases.
• Retinal imaging analysis holds promise for identifying individuals at risk for glaucoma and AMD.