Abstract
Significant clinical associations during subtle and overt illness as well as proven effects of demographics and heredity on retinal vascular appearance call for a comprehensive analysis of retinal blood vessels that is more structured and objective than currant observer-driven techniques. Attending to this gap in information, the present study aims to describe the normal morphology of retinal arteries among healthy north Indian subjects.
800 digitalized fundus images from 400 north Indian subjects (180 M & 220 F; mean age 35 years) were quantitatively analyzed based on selective geometric and topographical parameters (distance, direction, tortuosity, branching) of the four retinal quadrant arteries through sophisticated semi automated digital asset management software techniques.
Tortuosity and branching were more extensive in temporal than nasal quadrants, with a tendency for delayed on-start of arteriolar subdivisions, farther away from the optic disc and superior papillary trunks were positioned at keener angles than inferior trunks. A certain degree of dimorphism existed among eye sides and genders.
This study has elucidated retinal vascular geometrics of healthy Indians, a knowledge that can improve our understanding of regular features and natural variants in retinal vasculature. Morphological findings of this research will hopefully facilitate anatomists and clinicians in describing ‘what's normal’ in health and aid in differentiating it from the abnormal in case of disease. The potential utility of diagnostic and predictive fundus vascular screening in populations for appraisal of health risks mirrored in early retinal changes is a worthwhile direction to explore.