Subfoveal Choroidal Vascularity in Myopia: Evidence From Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate subfoveal choroidal vascularity in eyes with myopia in comparison to age-matched healthy subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of single foveal enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scans of 30 eyes with myopia (axial length greater than 25 mm). Subfoveal choroidal vascularity was evaluated by calculating vessel-area-to-stromal-area ratio using a previously validated automated algorithm. RESULTS: The subfoveal stromal area was significantly smaller in myopes (0.95 mm(3) +/- 0.22 mm(3)) compared to controls (1.33 mm(3) +/- 0.23 mm(3); P <.0001). However, there was no significant difference in vascular area or in vessel-area-to-stroma-area ratio between the groups (P = .15 and P = .16, respectively). Subfoveal choroidal vascularity percentage was also not significantly different between the two groups (P = .07). CONCLUSION: Subfoveal choroidal thinning in myopia is primarily associated with a reduction in choroidal stroma, not vascular components. This needs further exploration and has potential clinical applications.