Analysis of the morphology and vascular layers of the choroid in retinitis pigmentosa using spectral-domain OCT.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVE

To analyze choroidal morphology and vascular layers in eyes with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of 14 patients (14 eyes) with RP and 33 healthy subjects (33 eyes) who underwent high-definition one-line raster scanning at a single center. Two independent raters evaluated the morphology, thickness, and vascular layers of the choroid in both groups.

RESULTS

The choroid had an irregular shape in 11 of 14 eyes (79%) with RP. The thickest point of choroid was not subfoveal as in healthy eyes, and exaggerated nasal thinning of the choroid was observed in nine of 14 eyes (65%) with RP. Mean subfoveal total choroidal thickness and large choroidal vessel layer thickness were significantly lower in eyes with RP (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively) than in healthy eyes.

CONCLUSION

Choroidal morphology is altered and an exaggerated thinning of the large choroidal vessel layer is observed in eyes with RP. Further studies involving correlation of disease stage and severity with choroidal changes may provide further insight into the involvement of choroid in RP and other inherited retinal dystrophies.