Assessment of choriocapillary flow deficits in myopic children by optical coherence tomography angiography

To assess macular and optic disc choriocapillary flow deficit (CCFD) and vessel density (VD) in myopic children by OCT-angiography. 280 eyes of 280 subjects were included and divided into the non-myopia (n = 96), low myopia (n = 95), and moderate myopia (n = 89) groups. We analyzed the following factors: CCFD density and size, choroidal vascularity index, choriocapillary VD, retinal VD. The moderate myopia group showed significantly higher CCFD density and size (p < 0.05). There were significant linear correlations between CCFD density and axial length (AL), spherical equivalent (SE), average corneal curvature (AVK), and CCFD size and SE (all p < 0.05). Breakpoints were identified at SE values of -1.25 and -1.14D in relation to CCFD density and CCFD size (all p < 0.05). The moderate myopia group exhibited significantly increased and decreased radial peripapillary capillaries VD and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the temporal and nasal optic disc regions respectively (all p < 0.05). CCFD demonstrated a significant increase and correlation with AL and SE, suggesting that CCFD may serve as a more sensitive indicator of alternations in choroidal blood flow. It offers a novel perspective for investigating myopia progression associated with alterations in choroidal blood flow.Trial registration number ChiCTR2400087513.