Structural Evaluation of Retinal and Choroidal Features in Eyes With Primary Microtropia

To investigate the structural characteristics of the macula, optic nerve head, and choroid in eyes with primary microtropia using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

This prospective case-control study included 50 pediatric patients with a diagnosis of primary microtropia. Each participant contributed data from both eyes. Eyes were categorized as microtropic, fellow, or healthy control. All patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation, including SD-OCT imaging. Parameters assessed included central macular thickness, total macular volume, regional retinal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, subfoveal and regional choroidal thickness, and choroidal vascular index.

No statistically significant differences were observed among microtropic, fellow, and control eyes in terms of central macular thickness, total macular volume, or peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (P > .05). Although microtropic eyes showed a mild trend toward increased parafoveal and perifoveal retinal thickness across all quadrants, this variation did not reach statistical significance. Similarly, subfoveal, nasal, and temporal choroidal thickness measurements, as well as choroidal vascularity index, luminal area, stromal area, and total choroidal area, were comparable across all groups.

Primary microtropia was not associated with measurable retinal or choroidal structural abnormalities on SD-OCT. Although reduced visual acuity was present, the lack of detectable anatomical changes warrants further investigation to determine whether functional impairment in microtropia occurs independently of structural alterations.