Evaluation of the choroidal vascular structure in patients with migraine

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the posterior segment structures of the eye, including the macula, choroid, and choroidal vascularity index, in patients with migraine with those of healthy individuals. Patients and methods: In this case-control study, 51 right eyes of 51 patients (42 females, 9 males; median age: 36 years; range, 22 to 47 years) diagnosed with migraine (migraine group) and 36 right eyes of 36 healthy volunteers (control group) (30 females, 6 males; median age: 35 years;; range, 22 to 49 years) were included between January 2022 and December 2022. Optical coherence tomography images were evaluated in the enhanced deep imaging mode. Choroid, macular thickness, and choroidal vascularity index values were statistically compared between the groups. Results: Choroidal vascularity index values were found to be significantly higher in patients with migraine than in controls (67.4±3.9 vs. 65.7±2.0; p=0.025). There was no statistically significant difference in subfoveal macular thickness (p>0.05). Subfoveal choroidal thickness and total choroidal area were significantly lower in patients with migraine (p<0.001 and p=0.039, respectively). No statistically significant correlation was detected in macula and choroid measurements according to migraine duration, attack frequency, and presence of aura (p>0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggested that migraine caused changes in the choroidal tissue and vascular structure. The effects of migraine on the eye should be considered in the follow-up and treatment of both migraine and other diseases affecting the choroid.