The Relationship between Macular Vessel Density and Thickness with Light Sensitivity in Myopic Eyes

Purpose: To investigate vasculature-function and structure-function relationship in healthy myopic eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and microperimetry (MAIA). Methods: A total of 370 eyes from 190 participants were enrolled in this study. Subjects divided into three groups based on refractive status: low myopia (LM) (-3.00D <= spherical equivalent, SE <= -0.50D), moderate myopia (MM) (-6.00D <= SE < -3.00D) and high myopia (HM) (SE < -6.00D). The vessel density (VD), retinal thickness (RT) and light sensitivity (LS) were evaluated using OCT-A, OCT and MAIA. The global and regional vasculature-function and structure-function relationship were evaluated by the semi-partial correlation analysis according to ETDRS grid. The uni- and multivariate linear regression models were performed using LS as the dependent variable and covariates, included age, gender, intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), SE, ganglion cell complex thickness (GCCT), superficial (SVD) and deep vessel density (DVD) and RT as independent variables. Results: The LS negatively correlated with AL and positively correlated with SE, DVD, RT and GCCT (P < .05). The DVD was associated with the corresponding LS only in temporal and nasal sectors in HM (sr: 0.182-0.195, P < .05) but SVD not at all. The RT was associated with the corresponding LS in inferior and nasal sectors in MM (sr: 0.221-0.281, P < .005) and all sectors in HM (sr: 0.187-0.229, P < .05). Lower DVD and RT were independently associated with the declined LS in myopic eyes (P < .05). Conclusions: Reduced DVD and RT were independently associated with the declined LS in healthy myopic eyes, especially in HM.