Analysis of macular microvasculature and thickness after ICL implantation in patients with myopia using optical coherence tomography

Abstract

AIM: To investigate changes in macular vessels and thickness in myopic eyes after intraocular collamer lens (ICL) implantation using quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: This retrospective included 73 myopic eyes of 73 patients (average age, 27.53±6.16y) who underwent ICL implantation (28 eyes were Toric ICL). Axial length (AL), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), refractive dioptre (RD), intraocular pressure (IOP) and OCTA were measured and compared with before and 1wk, 1, and 3mo after surgery. OCTA was used to image vessel density (VD) and skeleton density (SD) in both the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP). Central retinal thickness (CRT) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (GCT) were also measured. Changes between pre- and postoperative measurements were analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Compared with preoperative data, postoperative data on UCVA revealed significant improvements in all patients (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in IOP. After the operation, CRT and GCT exhibited significant changes (P<0.05). Among these measures, CRT was significantly higher at one and three months postoperative (all P<0.01). GCT was significantly higher at 1wk, 1, and 3mo postoperative (all P<0.01). Changes in VD and SD were nonsignificant in both the SCP and DCP. There was no difference in postoperative changes between the ICL and Toric ICL groups. CONCLUSION: ICL and Toric ICL implantation both have good efficacy and safety for myopic eyes, but macular area changes that occur after surgery need attention.

Keywords

• intraocular collamer lens implantation
• vessel density
• macular thickness
• optical coherence tomography angiography