Choriocapillary regional characteristics in idiopathic macular holes using optical coherence tomography angiography

To evaluate the characteristics of vascular density (VD) of the retinal capillary plexuses in idiopathic macular hole (IMH), the fellow eye, and healthy control eyes by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

A retrospective cases series study involving 20 unilateral eyes (20 patients) with IMH, the unaffected fellow eyes (n = 20) and 20 health controls, with age- and sex-matched, was conducted in Shanxi Eye Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. VD of the retinal capillary plexuses measurements were obtained by OCTA.

Four quadrants of superficial capillary plexuses (SCP) in IMH eyes were not significant compared with that in the unaffected fellow eyes (all P > 0.05). The four quadrants of deep capillary plexuses (DCP) in IMH eyes were lower than that in the unaffected fellow eyes (all P < 0.05). Different regions retinal thickness in the IMH eyes was higher than that in the unaffected fellow eyes (all P < 0.05). a significant negative correlation between deep vessel density and retinal thickness in different quadrants among IMH eyes (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the correlation between the vascular density of SCP and retinal thickness was significant in macular fovea area (= 0.519, P = 0.019). <0.001.

The morphology of retina and choroid in idiopathic macular hole is different from that in fellow eye. The thickness of choroid in the fovea area of the unaffected eye also showed a decreasing trend. Taken together, the mechanism of macular hole may be further understood, that is, the decrease of choroid thickness may occur before the macular hole formation. It was verified again that the choroidal blood flow area in macular fovea of IMH patients was significantly lower than that in fellow eyes and healthy eyes.