Retinal curvature in myopia: correlation with ocular physiological parameters

Abstract

Purpose: Investigate the correlation of retinal curvature (RC) with ocular physiological parameters in myopic eyes.

Method: Clinical data from 332 patients (447 myopic eyes) were retrospectively analyzed. Eyes were classified into low myopia (LM), moderate myopia (MM), and high myopia (HM) groups based on spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL). Ultra-widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography (UWF-SS-OCT) was used to acquire 24 × 20 mm OCT scans. Bruch's membrane segmentation and AL-based correction produced a 3D retinal model. RC maps derived top curvature values (RC-MAX, RC-MID, RC-MIN) averaged as RC-AVE. Angiography quantified retinal vessel density (RVD), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and choroidal parameters (CVI: choroidal vessel index; CSV/a: choroidal stromal volume per unit area; CVV/a: choroidal vascular volume per unit area) in macular and optic disc areas.

Results: RC-AVE decreased with myopia severity: LM: 1.02 (0.89, 1.14) × 10^-2mm^-2, MM: 0.93 (0.83, 1.12) × 10^-2mm^-2, HM: 0.76 (0.67, 0.90) × 10^-2mm^-2. RC exhibited a significant negative correlation with AL (β = - 3.15, p < 0.001) and significant positive correlations with SE (β = 5.34, p < 0.001) and SFCT (β = 56.61, p = 0.001). In the macular region, RC positively correlated with choroidal vascular parameters CSV/a and CVV/a (β = 30.62, p = 0.005; β = 18.67, p = 0.002). In the optic disc region, RC showed significant positive associations with CVI, CSV/a, and CVV/a (β = 3.66, p < 0.001; β = 49.56, p < 0.001; β = 38.04, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: RC can quantitatively characterize retinal shape and the morphological changes induced by myopia. Significantly reduced RC in high myopia, with RC exhibiting negative correlations with AL and positive correlations with SE, SFCT, and vascular parameters.

Keywords: Myopia; OCTA; Retinal curvature; Ultra-wide-field.