Changes in choroidal thickness after vitamin D supplementation in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the relationship between vitamin D (vit D) deficiency and choroidal thickness and to investigate changes in choroidal thickness after vit D treatment.

METHODS

Sixty-five patients diagnosed with vit D deficiency (group 1) and 60 healthy individuals with normal vit D levels (group 2) were included in the study. The choroidal thickness in the subfoveal, nasal, and temporal regions of the fovea were measured manually using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. The choroidal thickness in the patients in group 1 was re-evaluated after treatment with vit D.

RESULTS

The groups were similar in terms of age and sex (p = 0.138 and p = 0.198, respectively). The subfoveal, temporal (500 and 1.500 µm), and nasal (500 and 1.500 µm) choroidal thickness values in group 1 were statistically significantly lower than those in group 2 (p < 0.001 for all). After vit D replacement therapy, there was a significant increase in the choroidal thicknesses compared with the pretreatment measurements (p < 0.001 for all). There was a positive correlation between vit D values and subfoveal, temporal (500 and 1.500 µm), and nasal (500 and 1.500 µm) choroidal thickness values (r = 0.558 and p < 0.001, r = 0.415 and p < 0.001, r = 0.352 and p < 0.001, r = 0.349 and p < 0.001, and r = 0.294 and p = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The choroidal thickness decreased in patients with vit D deficiency. The choroidal thickness values increased after vit D replacement therapy. Serum vit D levels should be assessed in studies evaluating choroidal thickness.