Songhomitra Panda-Jonas1, Leonard Holbach2, Jost B Jonas1. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Axial myopia is characterized by a thinning of the choroid. We examined whether the myopic choroidal thinning also includes a thinning of the choriocapillaris. METHODS: Using light microscopy, we measured thickness and density of the choriocapillaris at the posterior pole, posterior pole-equator midpoint (PPEMP), equator and close to the ora serrata on histological sections of 58 enucleated human globes (mean age: 62.4 ± 17.8 years; range: 24-88 years; mean axial length: 27.8 ± 4.0 mm; range: 22.0-37.0 mm). RESULTS: Choriocapillaris thickness decreased (p < 0.001) from the posterior pole (median: 3.9 µm; interquartile range (IQR): 3.3-6.0) to the equator (median: 2.7 µm; IQR: 1.5, 4.2). It was not significantly associated with axial length, neither at the posterior pole (p = 0.25), the PPEMP (p = 0.81), equator (p = 0.80) or ora serrata (p = 0.50). Mean choriocapillaris density decreased from the posterior pole to the equator (198 µm/300 µm; IQR: 152/300, 246/300 versus 156 µm/300 µm; IQR: 72/300, 216/300; p < 0.001). Choriocapillaris density was not significantly associated with axial length (posterior pole: p = 0.07; PPEMP: p = 0.33; equator: p = 0.22; ora serrata: p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: The choriocapillaris thickness and density, decreasing from the posterior pole to the fundus periphery, were not significantly associated with axial length. These findings may be of interest for the understanding of high myopia and pathologic myopia.
PURPOSE:Axial myopia is characterized by a thinning of the choroid. We examined whether the myopic choroidal thinning also includes a thinning of the choriocapillaris. METHODS: Using light microscopy, we measured thickness and density of the choriocapillaris at the posterior pole, posterior pole-equator midpoint (PPEMP), equator and close to the ora serrata on histological sections of 58 enucleated human globes (mean age: 62.4 ± 17.8 years; range: 24-88 years; mean axial length: 27.8 ± 4.0 mm; range: 22.0-37.0 mm). RESULTS:Choriocapillaris thickness decreased (p < 0.001) from the posterior pole (median: 3.9 µm; interquartile range (IQR): 3.3-6.0) to the equator (median: 2.7 µm; IQR: 1.5, 4.2). It was not significantly associated with axial length, neither at the posterior pole (p = 0.25), the PPEMP (p = 0.81), equator (p = 0.80) or ora serrata (p = 0.50). Mean choriocapillaris density decreased from the posterior pole to the equator (198 µm/300 µm; IQR: 152/300, 246/300 versus 156 µm/300 µm; IQR: 72/300, 216/300; p < 0.001). Choriocapillaris density was not significantly associated with axial length (posterior pole: p = 0.07; PPEMP: p = 0.33; equator: p = 0.22; ora serrata: p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: The choriocapillaris thickness and density, decreasing from the posterior pole to the fundus periphery, were not significantly associated with axial length. These findings may be of interest for the understanding of high myopia and pathologic myopia.
Authors: Jonathan Li; Hao Zhou; Max Feinstein; Jessica Wong; Ruikang K Wang; Lawrence Chan; Yining Dai; Travis Porco; Jacque L Duncan; Daniel M Schwartz Journal: Transl Vis Sci Technol Date: 2022-02-01 Impact factor: 3.048