Three-Dimensional Modeling of Highly Myopic Human Eyes Using Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To evaluate eyes with pathologic myopia by using volume-rendering optical coherence tomography (OCT) images, and to investigate the association between our findings and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with high myopia.

 

Methods

 

We reviewed 121 eyes of 121 consecutive patients with high myopia who visited the Macula Service at Kyoto University Hospital between May 2010 and May 2012. The inclusion criteria were (1) highly myopic eyes, defined by an axial length ≥ 26.0 mm; (2) age ≥ 40 years; and (3) use of spectral domain OCT (RS-3000®) for examinations. We reconstructed a three-dimensional (3D) ocular shape by using the Bruch’s membrane in 12 × 9 mm radial OCT scans with its center at the fovea. The volumes calculated from these reconstructed images were examined for their association with the occurrence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in eyes with high myopia.

 

Results

 

Out of the 121 eyes, 77 did not have CNV (group 1) and 44 had CNV (group 2). The mean age of the patients was 63.4 ± 12.1 years (group 1: 61.0 ± 12.6 years; group 2: 67.8 ± 9.9 years; P = 0.003), the mean axial length was 28.9 ± 1.8 mm (group 1: 29.0 ± 1.5 mm; group 2: 28.8 ± 1.7 mm; P = 0.52), and 81 of the 121 patients were women. The 3D reconstructed images showed various ocular shapes. Figure depicts the 3D ocular shape reconstructed from the OCT images. At a height of 150 µm, the volumes of the eligible cases were significantly smaller in group 1 than in group 2 (group 1: 0.56 ± 0.36 mm ³; group 2: 0.41 ± 0.16 mm³ ; P = 0.002). The presence of CNV was found to be correlated with the volume (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.46 [0.008-0.72], β=-0.78, P =0.025) and axial length (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.62 [0.59-0.99], β=-0.48, P =0.043) using multiple regression analysis, and the regression coefficient value was larger in the case of volume than in the case of axial length.

 

Conclusions

 

Our findings suggest that development of CNV with myopia is correlated with ocular shape.

 

 

The fundus photograph, OCT and 3D images of the representative case.

 

Keywords: 605 myopia • 453 choroid: neovascularization • 550 imaging/image analysis: clinical