Swept source-OCT and swept source-OCT angiography findings in posterior microphthalmos

To describe swept source-OCT (SS-OCT) and swept source-OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) findings in eyes with posterior microphthalmos (PM).

Twelve eyes (six patients) with PM were evaluated using SS-OCT and SS-OCTA. Structural changes, subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and perifoveal capillary changes with qualitative and quantitative assessments were analyzed. Twenty eyes served as control group.

SS-OCT findings included elevated retinal papillo-macular fold (75%), retinal pigment epithelium folds (83%), macular cystoid spaces (42%), subretinal fluid (17%), and increased visibility of posterior vitreous cortex and hyaloid (42%). Mean SFCT in PM and in control eyes were 430.33 ± 157.48 µm and 290.05 ± 52.87 µm, respectively (p = 0.004). Perifoveal capillary changes on SS-OCTA included foveal avascular zone (FAZ) remodeling (100%), vessel tortuosity (67%), disorganization of the deep capillary network (67%), intraretinal cystoid spaces (42%), and areas of signal voids in the choriocapillaris (33%). FAZ area was significantly smaller in eyes with PM than in the control group in both the superficial (p < 0.001) and deep capillary plexuses (p = 0.001). Capillary vessel density (CVD) was significantly lower in the PM than in the control group in the deep capillary plexus (p = 0.004). Log MAR BCVA correlated negatively with axial length (r = − 0.929, p < 0.001), FAZ area in both the superficial (r = − 0.637, p < 0.001) and deep capillary plexus (r = − 0.561, p = 0002), and CVD in the deep capillary plexus (r = − 0.450, p = 0.016).

Combined SS-OCT and SS-OCTA allow the detection of various retinal and choroidal structural and microvascular changes in eyes with PM. These findings can provide new insights onto this blinding ocular condition.