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Perforating scleral vessels in children and myopia-related pattern

Fiammetta Catania1, Youssef Abdelmassih1, Emanuele Crincoli1,2

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, France.

Acta Ophthalmologica
|July 31, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Myopic children have more perforating scleral vessels (PSVs) oriented against the scleral curvature compared to non-myopic children. These PSVs also have a smaller entry angle, potentially influencing axial elongation in myopia.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Anatomy
  • Biomedical Imaging

Background:

  • Perforating scleral vessels (PSVs) are crucial for scleral vascularization and nutrition.
  • Understanding PSV characteristics in pediatric eyes is essential for myopia research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence, location, and orientation of PSVs at the ocular posterior pole between emmetropic and myopic children.
  • Investigate potential differences in PSV morphology and distribution related to refractive error.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).
  • Defined PSVs as tubular hypo-reflective structures traversing the sclera on macular OCT images.
  • Classified PSVs as curvature-conforming or against-curvature based on their orientation relative to scleral curvature.

Main Results:

  • Myopic eyes (n=52) exhibited a significantly higher total PSV number compared to non-myopic eyes (n=50).
  • Against-curvature PSVs were significantly more prevalent and numerous in myopic eyes (p<0.001).
  • Myopic eyes showed a smaller PSV entry angle (38° vs. 51°, p<0.001) and different sectoral distribution.

Conclusions:

  • Significant differences in PSV count, location, entry angle, and direction exist between myopic and non-myopic eyes.
  • These findings suggest a potential role for PSVs in myopic axial elongation.
  • Further longitudinal studies are warranted to elucidate the precise contribution of PSVs to myopia progression.
Abstract

Keywords:
axial elongationbiomechanicsmyopiaperforating scleral vesselssclerashort posterior scleral vessels

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