Morphological features of the lamina cribrosa in patients with various degrees of myopia

Abstract

Background: The lamina cribrosa plays an important role in the development of vision and undergoes changes as myopia evolves. Purpose: To examine morphological features of the lamina cribrosa in high, moderate and low myopes vs generally healthy controls using optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived markers. Methods: Fourier-Domain OCT of the outer portion of the optic disc was performed in 40 low myopes (Group 1), 39 moderate myopes (Group 2), 41 high myopes (Group 3), and 20 generally healthy controls (Group 4) using an RTVue-100 instrument (Optovue Incorporated). The RTVue software version 6.11 was used to calculate the optic disc parameters based on the LC morphology markers we designed. Results: Length of the line connecting the flanking edges of Bruch’s membrane, maximum LC depth, depth of the LC insertion, and length of the line connecting the margins of LC insertion were statistically significantly greater (p < 0.05) in patients than in controls. In addition, we found these characteristics to significantly increase with an increase in severity of myopia. Conclusion: The lamina cribrosa is an important ocular structure and warrants further research for better understanding the pathogenesis of and prophylaxis against myopia.

Keywords

• myopia
• lamina cribrosa
• optical coherence tomography