Relationship Between Paravascular Abnormalities and Choroidal Thickness in Young Highly Myopic Adults

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of paravascular abnormalities (PVAs) and retinoschisis, and their associations with choroidal thickness (ChT) in young highly myopic (HM) adults. Methods A total number of 645 eyes were included. Paravascular microfolds (PMs), paravascular cystoid spaces (PCs), paravascular lamellar holes (PLHs), and retinoschisis were detected using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Their associations with macular ChT and risk factors were analyzed. Results PMs, PCs, and PLHs were detected in 203 (31.5%), 141 (21.9%), and 30 (4.7%) eyes, respectively. Retinoschisis was found in 50 (7.8%) eyes, 43 (86.0%) of which were located around the retinal vessels surrounding the optic disc. A decreasing trend of macular ChT ( P < 0.001) was observed in the eyes with PMs only, with both PCs and PMs, and with PLHs, PCs, and PMs. After adjustments for age, sex, and axial length (AL), the presence of PCs, PLHs, or retinoschisis around the optic disc was negatively associated with macular ChT (all P < 0.05). Eyes with longer AL, incomplete posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), and myopic atrophic maculopathy (MAM) were more likely to have PCs (all P < 0.01) and retinoschisis around the optic disc (all P < 0.05). Conclusions PVAs were observed in approximately one third of the young HM adults in this study. The presence of PCs, PLHs, or retinoschisis around the optic disc was associated with thinner macular ChT. Eyes with longer AL, incomplete PVD, and MAM may be at risk of developing PVAs and retinoschisis around the optic disc. Translational Relevance PCs, PLHs, and retinoschisis around the optic disc could serve as early indicators for myopia progression.

Update on the Utility of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Analysis of the Optic Nerve Head in Highly Myopic Eyes with and without Glaucoma

“…A higher incidence of PPRS was associated with older age, longer AXL, and the presence of posterior staphyloma [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Interestingly, Li et al revealed that the presence of PPRS was negatively associated with the MCT (β = −18.30, p < 0.05) in a recent study that included 645 myopic eyes [ 47 ].…”