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This abstract is assigned to session AOB Free Papers 2

Presentation type	Oral presentation
Title	Retinal vasculature across primary open-angle glaucoma severity groups: a cross-sectional study

Purpose	Retinal vasculature parameters have been proposed as complementary structural correlates of glaucomatous damage. Existing studies are limited to small sample sizes and rarely examine how these parameters relate to increasing disease severity. This study aimed to characterize differences in retinal vasculature parameters across primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) severity groups in a large cohort.
Methods	We analysed 3112 POAG eyes from the UZ Leuven Glaucoma Clinic. Patients were classified into three severity groups by baseline mean deviation: mild (≥-6dB, n=1508), moderate (-6 to -12dB, n=724), and severe (<-12dB, n=880). Multivariate analysis assessed overall differences in 26 retinal vasculature parameters across severity groups. Univariate analyses identified individually significant vascular parameters, followed by pairwise contrasts between groups, adjusting for age, sex, and diagnosis (HTG/NTG), and correcting for multiple-testing (FDR).
Results	Disease severity had a significant effect (p<0.001) on vascular parameters after adjustments. Mild and severe groups differed in 21 of 26 parameters, including vessel diameter, length, area and fractal dimensions. Moderate-severe differences were similar, excluding venular tortuosity, angle and diameter. Mild-moderate differed only in area, venular angle and arteriolar diameter.
Conclusion	Retinal vascular biomarkers showed a graded association with glaucoma severity. These findings support retinal vascular parameters as structural correlates of glaucoma severity. Future work is needed to confirm their additional utility in glaucoma stratification and progression prediction.
Conflict of interest	No
Details of conflicting interests	NA

Authors 1

Last name	VAN EIJGEN
Initials	J
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	Vercruysse
Initials	J
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 3

Last name	Ghinis
Initials	A
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 4

Last name	Beeckmans
Initials	L
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 5

Last name	Molenberghs
Initials	G
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 6

Last name	Vens
Initials	C
Department	KU Leuven
City	Kortrijk

Authors 7

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven