Evaluation of migraine patients with optical coherence tomography angiography

To compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in cases with migraine and healthy controls.

Thirty-eight eyes of 19 patients with migraine with aura and 38 eyes of 19 healthy subjects were enrolled in this prospective and comparative study. All patients and healthy controls were evaluated with OCTA (Triton, Topcon®, Tokyo, Japan). Central macular thickness (CMT), optic disc parameters (such as retinal nerve fibre layer [RNFL] thickness and rim and disc areas), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and parafoveal superficial vessel density (VD) measurements were analysed.

The optic disc rim area was significantly larger in the migraine group compared to the control group (p = 0.009). In OCTA measurements, the FAZ area was significantly larger in migraine patients (p = 0.001). The parafoveal superficial VD measurements were found to be lower in the migraine patients in all quadrants, but not statistically significant. Weak negative correlations were found between superior parafoveal VD and disease duration in migraine patients.

Migraine with aura was associated with optic disc rim changes, but without any remarkable foveal vascular decrements. It is possible for migraine to cause structural changes due to its chronic nature.