The effect of strabismus surgery on choroidal thickness

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Research
• Retinal Imaging

Background:

• Strabismus surgery aims to correct eye alignment.
• Choroidal thickness is a key indicator of ocular health.
• The impact of strabismus surgery on choroidal thickness is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of strabismus surgery on choroidal thickness.
• To analyze changes in subfoveal and macular choroidal thickness post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized study involving 37 patients undergoing strabismus surgery.
• Enhanced depth imaging optic coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) used for measurements.
• Choroidal thickness measured preoperatively and at multiple time points postoperatively (day 1, week 2, month 1, month 3).
• Measurements taken at subfoveal and parafoveal regions.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in choroidal thickness was observed in various regions across all surgical groups in the early postoperative period (day 1 and week 2).
• The reduction was most pronounced in the initial postoperative days and weeks, gradually resolving by the first month.
• By the third postoperative month, choroidal thickness returned to baseline levels in all groups, indicating a transient effect.

Conclusions:

• Strabismus surgery leads to a temporary decrease in choroidal thickness.
• This reduction is most evident in the early postoperative phase.
• Choroidal thickness normalizes by three months after surgery.