Changes of optic nerve head microcirculation in high myopia

Abstract

AIM: To analyze the correlation of age, spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length (AL) with the microcirculation of optic nerve head (ONH) in high myopia (HM). METHODS: In this cross-sectional clinical study, 164 right eyes were included. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to detect ONH vessel density. Eyes were classified based on age, SE, and AL. Groups of Age1, Age2, and Age3 were denoted for age classification (Age10.05) and the SE1, SE2, and SE3 groups (all P>0.05). No significant difference was observed in the intrapapillary vascular density (IVD) among AL1, AL2, AL3, and AL4 groups (P>0.05). However, a significant decrease was found in the peripapillary vascular density (PVD) in the AL1, AL2, AL3, and AL4 groups (F=3.605, P=0.015), especially in the inferotemporal (IT; F=6.25, P0.05). The PVD was correlated with AL (r=-0.236, P0.05). CONCLUSION: With the increase of AL, the IVD remains stable while the PVD decreases, especially in the three directions of temporal (IT, TI, and TS). The main cause of microcirculation reduction may be related to AL elongation rather than an increase in age or SE.

Keywords

• high myopia
• optic nerve head
• optical coherence tomography angiography
• vascular density
• axial length