Evaluation of retinal vascular density and related factors in youth myopia without maculopathy using OCTA

Abstract

To evaluate the retinal vascular flow density changes of myopic eyes of young adults using optical coherence tomography angiography and the factors affecting these changes. In this cross-sectional study, 90 eyes of 45 participants were analyzed and divided into three groups: mild, moderate, and high myopia (without pathological changes). Macular and radial peripapillary capillary flow densities were measured using optical coherence tomography angiography. Their relationships with the axial length, the spherical equivalent of the refractive error, and age were analyzed using analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multivariate linear regression analysis. Superficial and deep macular vascular densities were significantly decreased in the high myopia group compared to the other groups. In the high myopia group, the nasal peripapillary flow density decreased, whereas the flow density inside the disc increased. The axial length negatively correlated with the superficial and deep macular vascular density, but positively correlated with the vascular density inside the disc. The spherical equivalent of the refractive error negatively correlated with the macular vascular density. The retinal vascular density decreased in the high myopia group. Hence, the microvascular network inside the disc may have a compensatory action in the hypoxic setting of high myopia.

Advanced ultrawide-field optical coherence tomography angiography identifies previously undetectable changes in biomechanics-related parameters in nonpathological myopic fundus

“…In addition, the system built-in stringent quality control of scanned images also augments the reliability of the measured metrics. For example, the vascular density and structural thickness of the central macular region measured in our study are consistent with those obtained by SD-OCT in a previous study ( Wang et al, 2021 ). Meanwhile, the OCTA images of the peripheral retina captured by this machine are of good quality to facilitate diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa ( Zheng et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The reductions are associated with myopia severity and implicate the risk of pathological lesions. The changes of vessel density and retinal thickness at the macula are consistent with previous findings ( Wang et al, 2021 ). The ultrawide-field OCTA system should be used for the early detection of vascular and structural changes in the fundi of non-pathological myopic eyes.…”

Parapapillary choroidal microvascular density in acute primary angle-closure and primary open-angle glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

“…Furthermore, our study contradicted the previous report in which axial length was a strong determinant and negatively correlated with peripapillary vessel density. [31][32][33][34] This study has a number of limitations. First, the crosssectional design precluded identification of a primary causative aetiology.…”

Effects of air pollution on myopia: an update on clinical evidence and biological mechanisms

“…Vascular densities are reported to be significantly negatively correlated with axial length, including the capillaries in the superficial and deep macula, peripapillary area, and choroid (Wang et al 2021c ; Zheng et al 2015 ; Liu et al 2021 ). Quantitatively measured alterations in retinal vascular diameter may imply a retina abnormality (Chen et al 2017 ).…”