Noninvasive assessment of the retina and the choroid using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography shows microvascular impairments in childhood obesity

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the retinal vascular diameters and macular and subfoveal choroidal thicknesses of obese and nonobese children using enhanced-depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT).

Methods: The retinal vascular diameters of the 4 largest retinal arterioles and venules and macular and subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements of 40 obese children (body mass index [BMI] z score above +2.0 standard deviations) were obtained by EDI SD-OCT and compared with those of 40 age- and sex-matched nonobese children. Anthropometric measures, including weight and height, were also obtained. BMI z score was defined using standardized protocols.

Results: The mean BMI z scores of obese children were 2.59 ± 0.62; of nonobese children, -0.20 ± 0.92. The mean diameter of retinal arterioles was significantly smaller (P = 0.002) in obese children compared to nonobese children, whereas the mean diameter of retinal venules was larger (P = 0.008). The macular and subfoveal choroidal thicknesses were significantly thinner (P = 0.031 and 0.014, resp.) in obese children compared to nonobese children.

Conclusions: The narrower retinal arterioles, wider retinal venules, and thinner macular and subfoveal choroidal thicknesses in obese children seem to be associated with microvascular impairments in childhood obesity.