Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 12, 2026
In vivo Structural Assessments of Ocular Disease in Rodent Models using Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: July 24, 2020
Quantitative retinal alterations in hyperopic defocus: Integrated OCT angiography and histomorphometric analyses of
Zhuozhen Qin1, Shaojin Zhu1, Chi Xie1
1The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology (The First People's Hospital of Huainan), Huainan, Anhui, 232000, China; Institute of Ophthalmology, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui, 232000, China.
Abstract:
This study aimed to establish a stable mouse model of lens-induced myopia (LIM) and integrate swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) with quantitative tissue morphology techniques to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of retinal structure and blood flow during myopia development. Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the LIM group (with the left eye wearing an anti-scratch fixation device and equipped with a -25D lens, n = 12) and the control group (device only, without lens, n = 12). The intervention lasted for 4 weeks. Axial length (AL) and refraction were measured at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks after defocus initiation. The thicknesses of inner, outer, and all retinal layers were quantified in vivo using SS-OCTA at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4 after defocus initiation. At study conclusion, H&E staining was performed for histological analysis of the retina. The LIM group successfully developed progressive myopia (refraction: -2.20 ± 0.79 D vs. 0.13 ± 0.36 D in controls, p < 0.0001) and axial elongation (AL: 3.597 ± 0.042 mm vs. 3.507 ± 0.067 mm, p = 0.0001); SS-OCTA demonstrated significant regional thinning, predominantly in the inner retina of the LIM group, with central thinning of 12.8 % (73.50 ± 18.06 μm vs. 84.38 ± 12.91 μm, p = 0.038); temporal and inferior thinning were also significant. However, there was no statistically significant difference in microvascular density (all p > 0.05). Histology confirmed thinning of the entire temporal retinal layer (12.5 % decrease; 144.70 ± 16.55 μm vs. 165.40 ± 18.46 μm, p = 0.009). Furthermore, the novel fixation device achieved zero detachment rate and did not cause ocular complications. This study successfully established a stable and reproducible LIM model, overcoming technical limitations of traditional methods. Findings indicated that structural remodeling of the inner retina (temporal > central) preceded blood flow alterations, suggesting structural abnormalities as an early driver of myopic axial elongation, providing new insights for targeted myopia interventions.
