Abstract
Purpose :
High myopia is the second most common cause of low vision/blindness in Chinese adults of age 40 years or older. Paravascular retinal abnormalities (PVRA) including intraretinal cysts, microfolds, lamellar holes, and retinoschisis around retinal vessels identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been reported in highly myopic eyes. However, the mechanisms and risk factors for the development of PVRA and its relationship with retinal dysfunction in high myopia are poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the characteristics of PVRA in highly myopic Chinese.
Methods :
Cross sectional study of 70 highly myopic eyes in 42 adult patients. Complete ophthalmologic examinations, including stereoscopic fundus observation, were carried out in all participants. Multiple OCT scans across the entire temporal vascular arcade of the retina and macula were performed to assess PVRA and other retinal structural abnormalities. The mean axial length and subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured.
Results :
PVRA was analyzed in 70 eyes of 42 patients with a mean age of 49.2±14.5 years (range, 22-87 years), a mean refractive error of -11.7±5.6D (range, -6 to -28.00D), and a mean axial length (AL) of 28.5±2.1 mm (range, 25.7-30.5 mm). PVRA was found to present in 60 out of 70 eyes (86.0%). Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of PVRA is significantly higher in patients with age over 40 years, AL longer than 27mm, or subfoveal choroidal thickness thinner than 150μm. In addition, we observed foveoschisis in 10 out of 70 eyes (14.28%) and epiretinal membrane (ERM) in 16 out of 70 eyes (22.85%). Interestingly, all the eyes with foveoschisis or epiretinal membrane had PVRA.
Conclusions :
We conclude that PVRA is common in highly myopic Chinese patients and has a higher prevalence associated with older age, longer AL, and thinner subfoveal choroidal thickness. Therefore, a complete OCT scan along the retinal vascular arcade and careful follow-up are strongly recommended for high-risk highly myopic patients.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.