Optical coherence tomography angiography aspects of the retinal and optic disc microvascular morphology in erythemato-telangectatic rosacea

Background: To investigate retinal and optic disc (OD) microvascular morphological changes in erythemato-telangiectatic rosacea (ETR) patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and compare the findings to age-and gender-matched healthy individuals. Methods: This study included newly diagnosed 31 ETR patients (31 right eyes, group 1) who were clinically diagnosed by two experienced dermatologists. A control group had 32 healthy individuals (32 right eyes, group 2). Demographic data, including age and gender were collected, followed by a thorough ophthalmologic exam. A 6 x 6 mm macular OCTA analysis of superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) vessel densities (VDs), as well as foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ perimeter (PERIM), foveal VDs 300 & mu;m area around FAZ (FD -300), and flow areas in the outer retinal and choriocapillaris, was then performed. Results: Mean age in groups 1 and 2 was 43.70 & PLUSMN; 13.02 and 43.62 & PLUSMN; 12.30 years, respectively (p=0.979). Male-to-female ratio in group 1 was 4:27 and 4:28 in group 2. Capillary flow analysis revealed slightly higher values in group 1 than in group 2, with the former having a significantly higher select area in the outer retinal layer (p=0.001) and flow area in the choriocapillaris (p=0.002). Despite slightly higher values in group 1, there were no significant differences in SCP and DCP VDs (p > 0.05), FAZ area (p=0.471), PERIM (p=0.778), or FD-300 (p=0.527). Conclusions: ETR appears to be associated with posterior segment changes, especially retinal microvascular morphology, even in asymptomatic ocular conditions. Given the disease's high rate of misdiagnosis, under-standing rosacea-induced ocular manifestations is critical for ophthalmologists