Response of the Trilaminar Retinal Vessel Network to Intraocular Pressure Elevation in Rat Eyes

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the superficial, intermediate, and deep retinal vascular plexus show different responses to intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Methods: Anesthetized adult Long Evans rats (n = 14) were imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA; Spectralis) at baseline (IOP 10 mm Hg) and in follow-up mode to examine the vasculature during IOP elevation (10 to 110 mm Hg, 10 mm Hg steps, each step 3 minutes). A 20° × 10° field was imaged. Vessel density within a 2D projection image was determined (%) for the superficial vascular complex (SVC), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), and deep capillary plexus (DCP). Comparisons ..