Racial Differences in Choroidal Vascularity Index in Healthy Patients: Novel Insights

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vascular Biology
• Racial Health Disparities

Background:

• Choroidal vascularity index (CVI) quantifies the vascularization of the choroid.
• Understanding racial variations in CVI is crucial for ocular health research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare CVI between young Black and White individuals.
• To investigate potential racial differences in choroidal vascularity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a validated algorithm for shadow compensation and choroidal vessel binarization.
• Measured CVI across the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid.

Main Results:

• Black patients demonstrated a significantly lower CVI compared to White patients (ß = -0.05, P < 0.001).
• No significant differences in choroidal or luminal volume were observed based on race.
• A trend indicated greater stromal volume in Black patients (ß = 3.08, P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Black patients possess a lower CVI than White patients, likely attributed to a higher stromal volume proportion.
• These exploratory findings highlight potential racial differences in choroidal structure.
• Further research is recommended to validate these observations.