Factors associated with macular complications in highly myopic eyes with dome-shaped macular configuration

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the associations between macular complications and demographic, clinical, and optical coherence tomography characteristics (OCT) of highly myopic eyes with a dome-shaped macula (DSM).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the findings of 90 patients (167 eyes) with DSM who had vertical and horizontal OCT scans between January 2011 and June 2018. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and OCT-derived morphologic parameters were determined, and the associations of these parameters with macular complications were evaluated.

Results: Among 167 eyes, the following patterns were observed: horizontally oriented DSM (71%), symmetric DSM (27%), and vertically oriented DSM (2%). Complications or abnormalities involving the macular area were detected by OCT in 63% (106/167) of the eyes. Specific complications were as follows: choroidal neovascularization (CNV) (37.1%), macular retinoschisis (9.0%), serous retinal detachment (RD) (7.8%), epiretinal membrane (4.2%), lamellar macular hole (3.0%), and macular hole (2.4%). The eyes with CNV had thinner choroid (P < 0.001) and lower macular bulge height (P = 0.04). The eyes with serous RD had thicker choroid (P < 0.001) and higher macular bulge height (P < 0.001). Serous RD was significantly more common when the macular height was greater than 250 μm (P = 0.001) and if the DSM pattern was vertical (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: A greater bulge height and thicker choroid in highly myopic eyes with DSM may be protective against the development of myopic CNV. A thicker choroid, a higher macular bulge (> 250 μm), and a vertical DSM pattern are associated with a risk of developing serous RD.

Keywords: Choroidal neovascularization; Dome-shaped macula; High myopia; Retinoschisis; Serous retinal detachment.