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Choriocapillaris thickness and density in high myopia
Author(s) -
Holbach Leonard,
Jonas Jost,
PandaJonas Songhomitra
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2019.5482
Subject(s) - equator , posterior pole , anatomy , ophthalmology , sagittal plane , medicine , geology , retinal , geodesy , latitude
Purpose Myopic axial elongation is associated with choroidal thinning in general. We examined whether the thickness of the choriocapillaris decreases in relationship to axial length. Methods Using light microscopy, we measured thickness and density of the choriocapillaris in various ocular regions on sagittal histological sections of human globes enucleated due to malignant choroidal melanomas or secondary angle‐closure glaucoma. Results The study included 75 globes with a mean age of 62.6 ± 17.0 years (range: 24–88 years) and a mean axial length of 27.8 ± 3.8 mm (range: 22.0–37.0 mm). The choriocapillaris was significantly (p = 0.008) thicker at the posterior pole (6.8 ± 6.0 µm) than at the posterior pole‐equator midpoint (5.0 ± 3.8 µm), where it was thicker (p = 0.03) than at the equator (4.0 ± 3.4 µm), with no significant (p = 0.16) difference from there to the ora serrata (4.6 ± 3.8 µm). Choriocapillaris thickness was not significantly associated with axial length, neither at the posterior pole (p = 0.83), posterior pole‐equator midpoint (p = 0.79), equator (p = 0.99) or ora serrata (p = 0.18). Mean choriocapillaris density was 216 ± 56 µm/300 µm at the posterior pole, 193 ± 64 µm/300 µm at the posterior pole‐equator midpoint, 174 ± 73 µm/300 µm at the equator, and 196 ± 66 µm/300 µm close to the ora serrata. The difference in choriocapillaris density between the posterior pole and the equator was significant (p = 0.02). Choriocapillaris density was not significantly associated with axial length (posterior pole: p = 0.29; posterior pole‐equator midpoint: p = 0.68; equator: p = 0.76; ora serrata: p = 0.61). At the posterior pole, choriocapillaris density was associated with a higher RPE cell height (p = 0.02) and higher RPE cell density (p = 0.02). Conclusions Choriocapillaris thickness and density, decreasing from the posterior pole to the fundus periphery, were not significantly associated with axial length. Higher choriocapillaris density was associated with higher RPE cell height and density. These findings may be of interest for the understanding of pathologic myopia.