Correlation analysis of vision and changes of macular structure and microcirculation in myopic maculopathy

Abstract

AIM:To observe the changes of macular morphology and microcirculation in myopic maculopathy(MM), and investigate theirs correlation and effects on vision.METHODS: Case-control study. A total of 165 patients(189 eyes)with high myopia and 154 healthy volunteers(154 eyes)from October 2016 to December 2018 were selected. According to the classification of Meta-analysis for pathologic myopia(META-PM), participants were divided into M0 group(category 0, 41 eyes), M1 group(category 1, 53 eyes), M2 group(category 2 and 3, 52 eyes), and myopic choroidal neovascularization(mCNV)group(43 eyes). All participants underwent optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)examination. Morphological and microcirculation parameters of retina at different layers were compared between groups. Pearson correlation was used to assess the correlation between morphological and microcirculation parameters. Correlations between vision and other parameters were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis.RESULTS:Foveal full retinal thickness(FRT)and outer retinal thickness(ORT)were all lower in M0, M1 and M2 groups than those of control group(all P<0.01). Foveal superficial capillary plexus vessel density(SVD)and deep capillary plexus vessel density(DVD)were all lower in M2 and mCNV groups than those of the control group(all P<0.01). Parafoveal FRT and ORT were all lower in M0, M1, M2 and mCNV groups than those of the control group(all P<0.01). Parafoveal inner retinal thickness(IRT), SVD and DVD were all lower in M2 and mCNV groups than those of the control group(all P<0.01). Subfoveal choroidal thickness(SFCT)and choroid capillaries vessel density(CVD)were all lower in M0, M1, M2 and mCNV groups than those of the control group(all P<0.01). Foveal vessel density of retina and choroid were positively correlated with its thickness in patients with MM without CNV(all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that axial length(AL), diffuse or patchy chorioretinal atrophy were influencing foctors of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA; all P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Retinal morphological changes precede microcirculation changes in MM. Most of all, ORT changes precede IRT changes. Foveal vessel density of retina and choroid were positively correlated with its thickness. The main influencing factors of BCVA were AL and types of MM.

Keywords

• myopic maculopathy
• myopic choroidal neovascularization
• optical coherence tomography angiography
• vessel density
• chorioretinal atrophy