Choroidal Thickness in Correlation with Axial Length and Myopia Degree.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Retinal Research

Background:

• Myopia, a leading cause of visual disability affecting 108 million globally, occurs when images focus before the retina.
• Understanding the anatomical changes associated with myopia is crucial for managing visual impairment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between the degree of myopia, axial length of the eye, and choroidal thickness (CT).
• To analyze how these parameters relate in individuals with refractive errors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study involving 59 participants (116 eyes) with refractive errors.
• Choroidal thickness measured using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography (EDI-OCT) across nine areas.
• Statistical analysis including one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

• A statistically significant relationship was observed between choroidal thickness and both axial length (p < 0.05) and myopia degree (p < 0.05).
• The study identified a clear inverse correlation: as axial length and myopia severity increase, choroidal thickness decreases.

Conclusions:

• Choroidal thickness diminishes with increasing axial length and myopia severity.
• Elevated myopia degrees are associated with thinner choroidal vasculature, highlighting potential implications for retinal health.