Correlation of choroidal thickness with serum cortisol level

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Choroidal thickness is a key indicator of ocular health.
• Serum cortisol levels can be influenced by various physiological factors.
• Understanding potential correlations is crucial for comprehensive eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between serum cortisol levels and subfoveal choroidal thickness.
• To analyze correlations with other ocular and demographic parameters.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-six healthy volunteers underwent spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for choroidal thickness measurement.
• Morning serum cortisol levels were measured concurrently.
• Linear and multiple regression analyses were used to assess correlations.

Main Results:

• No significant correlation was found between serum cortisol levels and choroidal thickness (R(2): 0.034, p = 0.139).
• Axial length showed a strong negative correlation with choroidal thickness (R(2): 0.488, p = 0.000).
• Age and spherical equivalent were not significantly correlated with choroidal thickness.

Conclusions:

• Serum cortisol levels do not appear to correlate with choroidal thickness in healthy individuals.
• Further prospective studies are recommended to elucidate the role of cortisol and other hormones in determining choroidal thickness.