Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to prospectively assess the incidence of retinal embolization and to evaluate the vascular and structural changes in the retina and choroid in 52 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery disease who underwent carotid artery revascula...

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Main Authors: Foteini Xanthou, Anna Dastiridou, Athanasios Giannoukas, Miltiadis Matsagkas, Chara Tzavara, Athanasios Chaidoulis, Sofia Androudi, Evangelia E. Tsironi
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/14/1826
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author Foteini Xanthou
Anna Dastiridou
Athanasios Giannoukas
Miltiadis Matsagkas
Chara Tzavara
Athanasios Chaidoulis
Sofia Androudi
Evangelia E. Tsironi
author_facet Foteini Xanthou
Anna Dastiridou
Athanasios Giannoukas
Miltiadis Matsagkas
Chara Tzavara
Athanasios Chaidoulis
Sofia Androudi
Evangelia E. Tsironi
author_sort Foteini Xanthou
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to prospectively assess the incidence of retinal embolization and to evaluate the vascular and structural changes in the retina and choroid in 52 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery disease who underwent carotid artery revascularization. <b>Methods</b>: In our study, 35 patients underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and 17 underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS). Biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT-angiography (OCTA) were performed at baseline and 1 month after revascularization. <b>Results</b>: The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), peripapillary choroidal thickness inferior to the optic nerve head (ppCTi), total overall average retinal vascular density (rVDtot), and total overall average choriocapillaris vascular density (ccVDtot) of the eyes ipsilateral to the operated carotid artery increased significantly after revascularization, whereas a statistically significant increase was also found in the SFCT, rVDtot, and ccVDtot of the contralateral eyes in the overall cohort. Comparing the two study groups, we found that the SFCT, superior and inferior peripapillary choroidal thicknesses (ppCTs, ppCTi), rVDtot, and ccVDtot increased in both groups after revascularization, but significantly only in the CEA group. Furthermore, the temporal choriocapillaris vascular density (ccVDt) increased significantly after revascularization in both groups to a similar degree. <b>Conclusions</b>: Carotid artery revascularization led to a statistically significant increase in retinal and choroidal vascular densities, which indicates significantly improved ocular perfusion. The analysis of the findings of the two study groups suggests the superiority of CEA in terms of improving ocular perfusion in asymptomatic severe carotid artery disease. The rate of retinal embolization was similar in both surgical groups.
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spelling doaj-art-3741b917bddb4d5aa44e31277a9e634f2025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-07-011514182610.3390/diagnostics15141826Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)Foteini Xanthou0Anna Dastiridou1Athanasios Giannoukas2Miltiadis Matsagkas3Chara Tzavara4Athanasios Chaidoulis5Sofia Androudi6Evangelia E. Tsironi7Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceOphthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceVascular Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceVascular Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceBiostatistics Department, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, GreeceVascular Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceOphthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, GreeceOphthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to prospectively assess the incidence of retinal embolization and to evaluate the vascular and structural changes in the retina and choroid in 52 patients with asymptomatic severe carotid artery disease who underwent carotid artery revascularization. <b>Methods</b>: In our study, 35 patients underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and 17 underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS). Biomicroscopy, fundoscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and OCT-angiography (OCTA) were performed at baseline and 1 month after revascularization. <b>Results</b>: The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), peripapillary choroidal thickness inferior to the optic nerve head (ppCTi), total overall average retinal vascular density (rVDtot), and total overall average choriocapillaris vascular density (ccVDtot) of the eyes ipsilateral to the operated carotid artery increased significantly after revascularization, whereas a statistically significant increase was also found in the SFCT, rVDtot, and ccVDtot of the contralateral eyes in the overall cohort. Comparing the two study groups, we found that the SFCT, superior and inferior peripapillary choroidal thicknesses (ppCTs, ppCTi), rVDtot, and ccVDtot increased in both groups after revascularization, but significantly only in the CEA group. Furthermore, the temporal choriocapillaris vascular density (ccVDt) increased significantly after revascularization in both groups to a similar degree. <b>Conclusions</b>: Carotid artery revascularization led to a statistically significant increase in retinal and choroidal vascular densities, which indicates significantly improved ocular perfusion. The analysis of the findings of the two study groups suggests the superiority of CEA in terms of improving ocular perfusion in asymptomatic severe carotid artery disease. The rate of retinal embolization was similar in both surgical groups.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/14/1826carotid artery stenosiscarotid endarterectomycarotid artery stentingOCTOCT-angiographychoriocapillaris vascular density
spellingShingle Foteini Xanthou
Anna Dastiridou
Athanasios Giannoukas
Miltiadis Matsagkas
Chara Tzavara
Athanasios Chaidoulis
Sofia Androudi
Evangelia E. Tsironi
Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
Diagnostics
carotid artery stenosis
carotid endarterectomy
carotid artery stenting
OCT
OCT-angiography
choriocapillaris vascular density
title Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
title_full Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
title_fullStr Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
title_full_unstemmed Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
title_short Ocular Structural and Vascular Changes in Patients with Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Disease After Undergoing Carotid Endarterectomy (CEA) and Carotid Artery Stenting (CAS)
title_sort ocular structural and vascular changes in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid disease after undergoing carotid endarterectomy cea and carotid artery stenting cas
topic carotid artery stenosis
carotid endarterectomy
carotid artery stenting
OCT
OCT-angiography
choriocapillaris vascular density
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/14/1826
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