Visually guided chick ocular length and structural thickness variations assessed by swept-source optical coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Animal Models
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Chicks are a valuable model for myopia research.
• Ultrasound is commonly used for ocular measurements but has limited spatial resolution.
• Investigating myopia-induced ocular changes in chicks requires advanced imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) for in vivo imaging of ocular structures in chicks.
• To investigate changes in axial length and ocular tissue thickness during visually induced myopia and recovery in chicks.

Main Methods:

• Form-deprivation myopia was induced in chicks using translucent goggles.
• Ocular dimensions, including axial length, lens thickness, and retinal/choroidal thickness, were measured using SS-OCT.
• Measurements were taken in control, myopic, and recovery groups.

Main Results:

• Myopic chick eyes showed significantly increased axial length, lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and vitreous chamber depth.
• Retina and choroid thicknesses were significantly reduced in myopic eyes.
• Recovery led to increased cornea thickness, retina pigment epithelium thickness, and choroid thickness, with decreased anterior chamber depth and lens thickness.

Conclusions:

• SS-OCT is a feasible and promising tool for in vivo chick eye research, providing detailed measurements of ocular structures.
• Visually induced myopia in chicks involves significant alterations in multiple ocular dimensions.
• Recovery from myopia shows partial reversal of these structural changes, offering insights into myopia progression and regression.