Linking Structure and Function: Image-Based Virtual Populations of the Retinal Vasculature

PurposeThis study explores the relationship between microvascular parameters as delineated by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and retinal perfusion. We introduce a versatile framework to examine the interplay between the retinal vasculature structure and function, generating virtual vasculatures from central retinal vessels to macular capillaries. Alongside this, we develop a haemodynamics model which tests the associations between vascular morphology and retinal perfusion. MethodsThe generation of the vasculature is based on the distribution of four clinical parameters pertaining to the dimension and blood pressure of the central retinal vessels, constructive constrained optimisation and Voronoi diagram. Arterial and venous trees are generated in the temporal retina and connected through three layers of capillaries at different depths in the macula. The correlations between total retinal blood flow and macular flow fraction and vascular morphology are derived as Spearman rank coefficients and uncertainty from input parameters is quantified. ResultsA virtual cohort of 200 healthy vasculatures were generated. Mean and standard deviation for retinal blood flow and macular flow ratio were 19.15 {+/-} 7.34 L/min and 4.52 {+/-} 1.19 %. Retinal blood flow was correlated with vessel area density, vessel diameter index, fractal dimension and vessel calibre index. The macular flow fraction was not correlated with any morphological metrics. ConclusionsThe proposed framework is able to reproduce vascular networks in the macula that are morphologically and functionally similar to real vasculature. The framework provides quantitative insights into how macular perfusion can be affected by changes in vascular morphology delineated on OCTA.