Choroidal thickness and choriocapillaris vascular density in myopic anisometropia

Background This study aims to examine interocular differences in the choroidal thickness and vascular density of the choriocapillaris in anisometropic myopes and to further explore the relationship between choroidal blood flow and myopia. Methods The sample comprised 44 participants with anisometropic myopia, aged 9 to 18 years, with normal best-corrected visual acuity. All participants underwent a series of examinations, including spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL), measured by a Lenstar optical biometer and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) scanner. OCT measured the choroidal thickness, vascular density, and flow voids of the choriocapillaris, and a customized algorithm was implemented in MATLAB R2017a with the post-correction of AL. The choroidal thickness was measured at the fovea and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm nasally, temporally, inferiorly, and superiorly to the fovea. The vascular density and the flow voids of the choriocapillaris were measured at a 0.6-mm-diameter central circle, and the 0.6–2.5 mm diameter circle in the nasal, temporal, inferior, and superior regions. Repeated-measured ANOVAs were used to analyze the interocular differences. Partial correlations with the K value and age adjustments were used to study the relationships between the choroidal thickness, the choriocapillaris vascular density and flow voids, the SER and AL. Results The choroidal thickness of the more myopic eyes was significantly thinner than less myopic eyes (P ≤ 0.001), and the flow voids in the more myopic eyes were more than less myopic eyes (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the vascular density of the choriocapillaris between the more and less myopic eyes (P = 0.525). However, when anisometropia was more than 1.50 D, the vascular density of choriocapillaris in the more myopic eyes was significantly less than the less myopic eyes (P = 0.026). The interocular difference of the choroidal thickness was significantly correlated with the interocular difference in SER and AL in the center, superior, and inferior regions but not in the nasal or temporal regions. The interocular differences of the vascular density and the flow voids of the choriocapillaris were not correlated with the interocular difference of SER and AL. Conclusions The choroidal thickness is thinner in the more myopic eyes. The flow void is increased, and the vascular density of the choriocapillaris is reduced in the more myopic eyes of children with anisometropia exceeding 1.50 D.

Peripheral refraction of myopic eyes with spectacle lenses correction and lens free emmetropes during accommodation

Purpose To measure axial and off-axis refraction patterns in myopic eyes with spectacle lenses correction and lens free emmetropes in young healthy subjects at different target distances from 2.00 m (0.50 D) to 0.20 m (5.00 D) in terms of sphere, astigmatism, and spherical equivalent refraction. Methods Refraction was measured at the center, 20 and 40 degrees from the line of sight both nasally and temporally in 15 emmetropic and 25 myopic young healthy subjects with an open field, binocular, infrared autorefractor (Grand Seiko WAM-5500, Hiroshima, Japan). Fixation target was a Maltese cross set at 2.00, 0.50, 0.33 and 0.20 m from the corneal plane. Changes in off-axis refraction with accommodation level were normalized with respect to distance axial values and compared between myopic eyes with spectacle lenses correction and lens free emmetropes. Results Off-axis refraction in myopic eyes with spectacle lenses correction was significantly more myopic in the temporal retina compared to lens free emmetropes except for the closest target distance. Relative off-axis refractive error changed significantly with accommodation when compared to axial refraction particularly in the myopic group. This change in the negative direction was due to changes in the spherical component of refraction that became more myopic relative to the center at the 0.20 m distance as the J0 component of astigmatism was significantly reduced in both emmetropes and myopes for the closest target. Conclusion Accommodation to very near targets (up to 0.20 m) makes the off-axis refraction of myopes wearing their spectacle correction similar to that of lens free emmetropes. A significant reduction in off-axis astigmatism was also observed for the 0.20 m distance.

Retinal and Choroidal Changes in Children with Moderate-to-High Hyperopia

Purpose. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, and choroidal thickness in children with moderate-to-high hyperopia (MHH). Methods. This was a cross-sectional study that enrolled 53 children with MHH and 53 emmetropic children. Subjects with a spherical equivalent refraction (SER) of +4.0 D or higher were included in the MHH group, and subjects with SER between −1.0 D and +1.0 D were included in the emmetropic group. Ophthalmic examinations, including uncorrected visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, slit-lamp examination, axial length, and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT; DRI OCT Triton-1, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), were performed. Results. The RNFL and GCL in the temporal and inferior quadrants in 1–3 mm of the macular fovea were thinner in the MHH group than in the emmetropic group (all P < 0.05 ). The MHH group also had a thicker choroidal thickness in all regions (all P < 0.05 ). The SER was independently correlated with the average choroidal thickness in the optic disc and fovea (coefficient = 4.853, P < 0.001 for the optic disc; coefficient = 5.523, P = 0.004 for the fovea), while axial length was negatively correlated with choroidal thickness (coefficient = −12.649, P < 0.001 ). Axial length was positively associated with RNFL and GCL thickness in the temporal quadrant in 1–3 mm of the macular fovea (coefficient = 0.966, P = 0.007 for RNFL and coefficient = 1.476, P = 0.011 for the macular fovea). Conclusion. Compared with emmetropic children, MMH children had greater choroidal thickness. The characteristics of the RNFL and GCL thickness in MMH children were different from those in emmetropic children.

Disruption of Normal Refractive Development in Individuals with Ocular and Oculocutaneous Albinism

PurposeAlbinism is known to disrupt emmetropisation in animal models. However, it is not clear if the same effect is seen in humans. This study aimed to investigate the refractive profile in individual diagnosed with ocular albinism (OA) and oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) based on a large dataset.MethodsRequired data from 618 individuals (61% males and 39% females) diagnosed with albinism were exported from the eyeSmart electronic medical records of L V Prasad Eye Institute. Overall, there were 112 (18%) individuals diagnosed with OA and 506 (82%) with OCA. Based on the spherical equivalent refraction (SER), individuals were classified as emmetropes, myopes, and hyperopes.ResultsThe overall spherical equivalent refraction of the individuals ranged from -25.00D to +12.00D with median 0.25 (-2.00 to 2.25). The proportion of individuals with albinism (combined OA, OCA) having hyperopia and myopia (overall: N=282;46% vs. N=245;40%) were similar (p = 0.18), and the least were with emmetropia (overall: N=91;14%). Across all the age groups (0-10, 11-20, 21-30, > 30 years) the frequency of hyperopes and myopes were significantly higher (p<0.05) compared to emmetropes. Both high degrees of hyperopia and myopia were found in individual diagnosed with OA and OCA. Irrespective of the albinism type, with-the-rule (70%) astigmatism was the most prevalent compared to other types of astigmatism. The frequency of with-the-rule astigmatism was significantly high in the presence of nystagmus compared to individuals with no nystagmus in both OA (75 % vs 25%, p = 0.01) and OCA (77% vs 23 %, p = 0.014) group. Conclusion The presence of both high hyperopia and high myopia and very less numbers with emmetropia across all age groups indicates disrupted normal refractive development in individuals with albinism. With-the-rule astigmatism and nystagmus may result in meridional degradation of retinal image leading to impairment of normal emmetropisation process in individuals with albinism.

Myopia incidence and lifestyle changes among school children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based prospective study

BackgroundThe impacts of social restrictions for COVID-19 on children’s vision and lifestyle remain unknown.AimsTo investigate myopia incidence, spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and lifestyle changes among schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsTwo separate longitudinal cohorts of children aged 6–8 years in Hong Kong were included. The COVID-19 cohort was recruited at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, whereas the pre-COVID-19 cohort was recruited before the COVID-19 pandemic. All children received ocular examinations, and answered a standardised questionnaire relating to their lifestyle, including time spent on outdoor activities and near work, both at baseline and at follow-up visits.ResultsA total of 1793 subjects were recruited, of whom 709 children comprised the COVID-19 cohort with 7.89±2.30 months of follow-up, and 1084 children comprised the pre-COVID-19 cohort with 37.54±3.12 months of follow-up. The overall incidence was 19.44% in the COVID-19 cohort, and 36.57% in pre-COVID-19 cohort. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the change in SER and axial length was –0.50±0.51 D and 0.29±0.35 mm, respectively; the time spent on outdoor activities decreased from 1.27±1.12 to 0.41±0.90 hours/day (p<0.001), while screen time increased from 2.45±2.32 to 6.89±4.42 hours/day (p<0.001).ConclusionsWe showed a potential increase in myopia incidence, significant decrease in outdoor time and increase in screen time among schoolchildren in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results serve to warn eye care professionals, and also policy makers, educators and parents, that collective efforts are needed to prevent childhood myopia—a potential public health crisis as a result of COVID-19.

The Correlation of Cycloplegic Refraction with Corneal Radius of Curvature-Adjusted Axial Length in Chinese Preschoolers

Background: In order to master the refractive status and detect severe refractive errors quickly and effectively, this study aimed to investigate the association of axial length after adjusting for corneal radius of curvature with refraction in a group of Chinese preschoolers. Methods: Retrospective review of 716 Chinese children aged from 3 to 6 years, who underwent cycloplegic optometry with 1% atropine eye gel in the ophthalmology department of Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center in Shanghai. Meanwhile axial length, corneal radius of curvature and cycloplegic autorefraction were obtained and axial length/corneal radius of curvature (AL/CR) ratio was calculated. The correlations of spherical equivalent refraction (SER) with axial length, corneal radius of curvature, AL/CR ratio and corneal radius of curvature-adjusted axial length were analyzed. Results: Only data from the right eye were included in this analysis. Among 716 eyes of 716 Chinese preschoolers, the mean (±SD) SER was 2.28±2.41 diopters (D), of which hyperopia, emmetropia, myopia were 84.64%, 8.54%, 6.84%, respectively. The mean(±SD) axial length, corneal radius of curvature and AL/CR ratio were 21.89±1.01mm, 7.76±0.27 mm, and 2.82±0.13, respectively. The SER was highly negative correlated with both axial length (coefficient –0.722) and AL/CR ratio (coefficient-0.814), and weakly correlated with corneal radius of curvature (coefficient 0.090) and gender(coefficient 0.093). Axial length was weakly correlated with age and gender(coefficient 0.232 and 0.268, respectively), but moderately correlated with corneal radius of curvature (coefficient 0.424). After adjusting for corneal radius of curvature, the correlation coefficient between SER and axial length significantly increased to-0.918. Conclusion: In the samples of 716 3-to 6-year-old Chinese children, axial length was moderately correlated with corneal radius of curvature. After adjusting for corneal radius of curvature, refraction was closely correlated with axial length than axial length alone and AL/CR ratio. Therefore, corneal radius of curvature-adjusted axial length might be a useful tool for pediatric ophthalmologists to detect refractive errors. Key Words: spherical equivalent refraction; corneal radius of curvature; adjusted; axial length; preschoolers.

One-year myopia control efficacy of spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets

AimsTo evaluate the 1-year efficacy of two new myopia control spectacle lenses with lenslets of different asphericity.MethodsOne hundred seventy schoolchildren aged 8–13 years with myopia of −0.75 D to −4.75 D were randomised to receive spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL), spectacle lenses with slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL), or single-vision spectacle lenses (SVL). Cycloplegic autorefraction (spherical equivalent refraction (SER)), axial length (AL) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured at baseline and 6-month intervals. Adaptation and compliance questionnaires were administered during all visits.ResultsAfter 1 year, the mean changes in the SER (±SE) and AL (±SE) in the SVL group were −0.81±0.06 D and 0.36±0.02 mm. Compared with SVL, the myopia control efficacy measured using SER was 67% (difference of 0.53 D) for HAL and 41% (difference of 0.33 D) for SAL, and the efficacy measured using AL was 64% (difference of 0.23 mm) for HAL and 31% (difference of 0.11 mm) for SAL (all p<0.01). HAL resulted in significantly greater myopia control than SAL for SER (difference of 0.21 D, p<0.001) and AL (difference of 0.12 mm, p<0.001). The mean BCVA (−0.01±0.1 logMAR, p=0.22) and mean daily wearing time (13.2±2.6 hours, p=0.26) were similar among the three groups. All groups adapted to their lenses with no reported adverse events, complaints or discomfort.ConclusionsSpectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets effectively slow myopia progression and axial elongation compared with SVL. Myopia control efficacy increased with lenslet asphericity.Trial registration numberChiCTR1800017683.

Subfoveal Scleral Thickness is Associated With Peripheral Retinal Changes in High Myopia in Children and Adolescents

Background This study aims to identify the risk factors in peripheral retinal changes (PRC) associated with high myopes among children and adolescents.Methods This is a cross-sectional study on children and adolescents diagnosed with high myopia. The subjects involved underwent a series of ocular examinations, including the dilated fundus examination for PRC and the swept-source optical coherence tomography for foveal retinal, choroidal and scleral thickness measurement. Then, the variables were compared among the eyes with high risk, low risk, and no PRC. Spearman correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between the parameters and the extent of PRC. Logistic regression was performed to identify the potential risk factors.Results A total of 117 eyes from 117 subjects were recruited. The prevalence of PRC was 57.3% (67 eyes), while that of high-risk PRC was 22.2% (26 eyes). A number of significant differences were observed in the mean subfoveal scleral thickness, spherical equivalent refraction, and axial length among the eyes with high-risk, low-risk, and no PRC (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p = 0.048, respectively). Compared with spherical equivalent (r = 0.32, p < 0.01) and axial length (r = 0.18, p = 0.05), subfoveal scleral thickness exhibited higher correlation coefficient with PRC (r=-0.38, p < 0.01). Subfoveal scleral thickness and spherical equivalent refraction were identified as the independent risk factors for both PRC and high-risk PRC.Conclusion It was demonstrated that there was a correlation between subfoveal scleral thickness and PRC. The eyes with thinner subfoveal scleral thickness carried a higher risk of PRC.