Subfoveal Choroidal Vascularity in Myopia: Evidence From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background and objective: To evaluate subfoveal choroidal vascularity in eyes with myopia in comparison to age-matched healthy subjects.

Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of single foveal enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scans of 30 eyes with myopia (axial length greater than 25 mm). Subfoveal choroidal vascularity was evaluated by calculating vessel-area-to-stromal-area ratio using a previously validated automated algorithm.

Results: The subfoveal stromal area was significantly smaller in myopes (0.95 mm³ ± 0.22 mm³) compared to controls (1.33 mm³ ± 0.23 mm³; P < .0001). However, there was no significant difference in vascular area or in vessel-area-to-stroma-area ratio between the groups (P = .15 and P = .16, respectively). Subfoveal choroidal vascularity percentage was also not significantly different between the two groups (P = .07).

Conclusion: Subfoveal choroidal thinning in myopia is primarily associated with a reduction in choroidal stroma, not vascular components. This needs further exploration and has potential clinical applications. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:202-207.].