Optical coherence tomography angiography findings in ADHD

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults.
• ADHD can impact ocular structures and visual functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Angiography findings in adult patients diagnosed with ADHD.
• To investigate potential ocular manifestations associated with ADHD.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 100 participants: 50 adults with ADHD and 50 healthy controls.
• Ophthalmological evaluation and OCT angiography were performed on all participants.
• Assessment of retinal thickness and vasculature using OCT angiography.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed between ADHD and control groups in age, sex, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), average keratometry (K), axial length (L), or spherical equivalent refraction (SER).
• The ADHD group demonstrated significantly decreased macular thickness (P < 0.05).
• Reduced peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and decreased retinal vascularity in all quadrants were observed in the ADHD group compared to controls (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Adult patients with ADHD exhibit reduced macular thickness.
• Decreased peripapillary RNFL thickness and retinal vasculature are characteristic findings in adults with ADHD.
• These ocular findings support the hypothesis of ocular affection in individuals with ADHD.