[Are there diurnal variations in choroidal thickness?].

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging
• Choroidal Physiology

Background:

• Choroidal thickness is a key parameter in ocular health.
• Understanding diurnal variations is crucial for accurate assessment.
• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables detailed visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure diurnal choroidal thickness in healthy eyes.
• To investigate potential thickness variations over a 24-hour period.
• To identify factors influencing choroidal thickness.

Main Methods:

• 30 healthy eyes were examined using spectral domain OCT with enhanced depth imaging.
• Choroidal thickness was measured at 6 predefined times within 24 hours.
• Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation, with mean values calculated.

Main Results:

• The mean choroidal thickness was 270 ± 87 µm.
• Individual diurnal fluctuations ranged from -47 µm to +41 µm.
• A significant negative correlation was found between age and choroidal thickness.

Conclusions:

• No statistically significant diurnal variation in choroidal thickness was observed.
• Patient age showed a significant negative correlation with choroidal thickness.
• Individual variability in diurnal fluctuations was substantial.