[Vascularized foveal zone: prevalence and structural characteristics]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• The foveal avascular zone (FAZ) is crucial for sharp central vision.
• Vascular anomalies within the macula, such as macular-foveal capillaries (MFC) and congenital retinal macrovessels (CRM), can impact retinal structure and function.
• Understanding the prevalence and structural implications of these anomalies is important for diagnosing and managing retinal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of vascularized foveal zones, specifically MFC and CRM.
• To analyze the structural characteristics of the macular area in patients with MFC.

Main Methods:

• Prevalence assessment of MFC and CRM using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCT-A).
• Comparative analysis of macular structural parameters (retinal thickness, RNFL, GCL, IPL, INL, OPL, ONL, foveal pit depth) between an MFC group and a control group.

Main Results:

• MFC prevalence was 4.36% (45/1031 eyes), and CRM prevalence was 0.29% (3/1031 eyes).
• Patients with MFC exhibited significantly increased retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the inferior parafoveal and foveal sectors.
• MFC group showed greater thickness in ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL), and a significantly shallower foveal pit compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• MFC and CRM have a low prevalence in the general population.
• The presence of MFC is associated with significant alterations in macular structure, including inner retinal thickening and reduced foveal pit depth.
• These findings suggest potential developmental disruptions during embryogenesis, impacting ganglion cell migration and apoptosis.