Choroidal and retinal thickness variations in anaemia and anaemic retinopathy

Anemia is the most common hematological disorder noted in the people of the Indian subcontinent. Hemodynamic changes following anemia on the retina and choroid are not frequently studied. The aim of the study was to analyse the subfoveal retinal (CRT) and choroidal (SFCT) thickness changes in patients with anemia. In this retrospective, comparative study, patients who were diagnosed with primary anemia and had a fundus examination by a retinal specialist were included. Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1: Patients with anemic retinopathy; Group 2: Patients with anemia without retinopathy; Group 3: Normal healthy controls. One hundred and ninety-seven eyes of 197 subjects (group 1 - 38 eyes, group 2 - 90 eyes; group 3 - 69 eyes) met the inclusion criteria. Mean CRT was 269 ± 117µm, 258 ± 99.7µm and 201 ± 19.2µm and SFCT was 303 ± 68.4µm, 303 ± 50.1µm and 275 ± 38.9µm in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Low haemoglobin corelated negatively with retinal (r = -0.362; p = <0.001) and choroidal (r = -0.294; p = <0.001) thickening and reduced visual acuity (r = -0.157; p = 0.03). In conclusion, patients with anemia have a thicker retina and choroid compared to normal healthy controls.