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Published on: February 18, 2022
CHOROIDAL BLOOD FLOW VISUALIZATION IN HIGH MYOPIA USING A PROJECTION ARTIFACT METHOD IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY
Ichiro Maruko1, Richard F Spaide, Hideki Koizumi
1*Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Women's Medical University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; and †Vitreous Retina Macula Consultants of New York, New York, New York.
This study demonstrates a novel method using optical coherence tomography angiography to visualize choroidal blood flow in highly myopic eyes by leveraging scleral projection artifacts. This technique successfully imaged larger choroidal vessels, offering insights into ocular vascularity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- High myopia is associated with significant ocular changes, including alterations in choroidal vasculature.
- Accurate visualization of choroidal blood flow is crucial for understanding and managing complications of high myopia.
- Current imaging techniques may face challenges in visualizing these deeper vascular structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in visualizing larger choroidal blood vessels in highly myopic eyes.
- To investigate the use of projection artifacts in the sclera as a method for imaging choroidal vasculature.
- To compare choroidal thickness in eyes with and without visualized choroidal blood flow.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study involving 92 highly myopic eyes (≥ 8 diopters) and 54 control eyes.
- Utilized optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to image choroidal blood flow.
- Employed segmentation techniques within the sclera to detect flow via projection artifacts, alongside direct choroidal segmentation and subfoveal choroidal thickness measurements.
Main Results:
- Direct visualization of choroidal blood flow was limited by segmentation artifacts in 73.9% of highly myopic eyes.
- Utilizing scleral projection artifacts allowed visualization of choroidal blood flow in 44.6% of highly myopic eyes.
- Eyes with visualized choroidal blood flow exhibited significantly thinner mean subfoveal choroidal thickness compared to those without (50.3 ± 42.2 μm vs. 100.3 ± 44.4 μm).
- No control eyes showed imaging of choroidal blood flow in larger vessels using this method.
Conclusions:
- Choroidal vessel anatomy can be effectively imaged in highly myopic eyes by detecting flow within scleral projection artifacts using OCTA.
- This projection artifact technique shows promise for estimating choroidal vascularity in conditions like high myopia.
- The findings suggest a potential link between thinner choroids and the ability to visualize flow via this artifact method.
