title: Influence of macular choroidal thickness on visual function in highly myopic eyes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the retinal and choroidal thicknesses (RT, CT), as measured using enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT, Spectralis) in highly myopic eyes and its relationship with visual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, case-control, noninterventional clinical study. CT was measured by EDI-OCT in highly myopic eyes (≥6 dpt) without any macular diseases and age-matched control eyes. A complete ophthalmological examination, visual acuity assessment and MP1 microperimetry were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  38 myopic (15 M/23 F, mean age 51 ± 8.9 years) and 21 control eyes (5 M/16 F, mean age 50 ± 5.4 years) were included. The myopic mean refractive error was -13.3 ± 4.9 dpt and axial length 29.2 ± 2.2 mm. The mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was lower in highly myopic than in control eyes (77.3 ± 9.25 vs. 84.8 ± 0.6 letters, p = 0.0001, respectively) as was the mean retinal sensitivity (MRS; 16.32 ± 2.6 vs. 19.9 ± 0.2 dB, p < 0.0001). While RT was similar between groups (291.5 ± 24.2 vs. 283.6 ± 13.9 µm, p = 0.06, respectively), subfoveal CT was thinner in highly myopic compared to control eyes (114.3 ± 78.5 vs. 272.6 ± 110.2 µm, p < 0.0001). A significant relationship was found between subfoveal CT and MRS (R(2) = 0.22; p = 0.003) and BCVA (R(2) = 0.13; p = 0.027).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Macular function is reduced in highly myopic eyes without any visible macular diseases compared to controls, and a significant proportion of the macular function variability seems to be related to a reduced CT.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacristina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parravano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oddone
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giorno
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cacciamani
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbate
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caminiti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peiretti
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests