Third–Generation Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT 3) in High Myopia

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To describe the third–generation optical coherence (OCT 3) tomography findings in high myopia. Methods: Observational case series. Forty–two myopic eyes of 26 patients, including 8 males and 18 females, 17 to 78 years old (mean, 42.24 years) were enrolled in this study. The mean refractive error was –13.07 (range, –25.00 to +1.25) and the mean axial length was 30.08 (range, 25.16 to 35.48). Best–corrected visual acuity ranged from light–perception to 20/20 (mean visual acuity of 20/100). Six linear scans of 6 mm in length and six additional scans of 8 mm were obtained in a radial spoke pattern centered on the central fovea in each eye. Retinal thickness was measured at the central fovea using manual caliper–assisted technique. Results: With OCT 3, we were able to detect peripapillary retinoschisis in two eyes, epiretinal membrane with peripapillary retinoschisis in one eye and full–thickness macular hole with peripapillary retinoschisis in one eye. There were also three cases of myopic traction maculopathy. These findings could not be identified by fundus biomicroscopy. Mean retinal thickness ± SD was 186.66 ± 32,45. Reduced retinal thickness was significantly correlated with reduced levels of VA (r = –0.36), as well as with increased axial length (r = –0.39). Conclusions: OCT 3 appears to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of macular disorders associated with high myopia. In our study, OCT 3 was able to detect subclinical changes involving the macular region in 7 of the 42 studied eyes. The retinal thickness may be lower in highly myopic eyes with higher axial length measurements and lower levels of VA.

Keywords: myopia • macula/fovea