Evaluation of macular retinal blood flow density and retinal thickness in adult myopia patients by optical coherence tomography angiography

Objective To evaluate the macular retinal blood flow density and retinal thickness(RT) in adult myopia patients by optical correlation tomography angiography (OCTA) and their relationship with age and myopia. Methods A total of 100 adult myopic patients (195 eyes) who visited the ophthalmology outpatient department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from February 2021 to February 2023 were selected. The patients were divided into low myopia group (-3.00 to -0.50 D, 33 cases with 65 eyes), moderate myopia group (-6.00 to ＜-3.00 D, 33 cases with 65 eyes) and high myopia group (＜-6.00 D, 34 cases with 65 eyes).All patients underwent photorefractive keratectomy and OCTA examination to quantify macular retinal superficial blood flow density and RT. Differences in macular retinal blood flow density and RT among the three groups were compared, and Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess their relationship with age and degree of myopia. Surgical-related indicators before and 6 months after surgery were compared. Results There were significant differences in vascular length density (VLD), vascular perfusion density (VPD) and RT in the inner and outer macular regions among the low, moderate, and high myopia groups (P＜0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed no correlation between central foveal VLD, VPD, RT, equivalent spherical degree, age, and axial length (P＞0.05). VLD, VPD, and RT in the inner and outer macular regions were positively correlated with equivalent spherical degree and negatively correlated with axial length, with VLD and VPD negatively correlated with age (P＜0.05). Conclusion The macular retinal blood flow density and RT decrease with increasing myopia and age in adult myopic patient.