title: Retinal sensitivity and choroidal thickness in high myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the association between choroidal thickness in the macular area and retinal sensitivity in eyes with high myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This investigation was a transversal study of patients with high myopia, all of whom had their retinal sensitivity measured with macular integrity assessment microperimetry. The choroidal thicknesses in the macular area were then measured by optical coherence tomography, and statistical correlations between their functionality and the anatomical structuralism, as assessed by both types of measurements, were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six eyes from 77 patients with high myopia were studied. The patients had a mean age ± standard deviation of 38.9 ± 13.2 years, with spherical equivalent values ranging from -6.00 diopter to -20.00 diopter (8.74 ± 2.73 diopter). The mean central choroidal thickness was 159.00 ± 50.57. The mean choroidal thickness was directly correlated with sensitivity (r = 0.306; P = 0.004) and visual acuity but indirectly correlated with the spherical equivalent values and patient age. The mean sensitivity was not significantly correlated with the macular foveal thickness (r = -0.174; P = 0.101) or with the overall macular thickness (r = 0.103; P = 0.334); furthermore, the mean sensitivity was significantly correlated with visual acuity (r = 0.431; P < 0.001) and the spherical equivalent values (r = -0.306; P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retinal sensitivity in highly myopic eyes is directly correlated with choroidal thickness and does not seem to be associated with retinal thickness. Thus, in patients with high myopia, accurate measurements of choroidal thickness may provide more accurate information about this pathologic condition because choroidal thickness correlates to a greater degree with the functional parameters, patient age, and spherical equivalent values.
authors.affiliation: *Low Vision Department, Optipunt Eye Clinic, St. Concepció, Spain; †Ophthalmology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; and ‡Barcelona Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaben
authors.forename: Miguel Á
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Arumi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology