Multimodal ocular evaluation in hemodialysis patients

To evaluate choroidal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length, central corneal thickness (CCT), lens thickness, anterior chamber depth, and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in hemodialysis patients.

The patients with end-stage renal disease and undergoing hemodialysis were included in the study. Immediately before and 1 hour after hemodialysis, all patients underwent measurement of choroidal thickness with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OC, Cirrus HD-OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA), IOP and OPA with Pascal dynamic contour tonometry (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, Port, Switzerland), and anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and axial length with optical biometry (LenStar LS900; Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland). Data from the patients’ right eyes were included in the statistical analysis.

The patient group included 8 (36.4%) males and 14 (63.6%) females with a mean age of 56, 14 ± 9, 96 (40–70) years. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness before and after hemodialysis was 255.21 ± 6.15 (245–263) µm and 234.95 ± 7.89 (220–247) µm, respectively (p < 0.001). Mean choroidal thickness at 1500 µm and 3000 µm nasal and temporal of the fovea also decreased significantly after hemodialysis (p < 0.001). Mean OPA values before and after hemodialysis were 2.14 ± 1.07 (0.6–4) mmHg and 1.6 ± 0.86 (0.5–3.2) mmHg, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between OPA and choroidal thickness measurements (p < 0.001, R = 0.923). IOP increased from 15.11 ± 2.58 (11–20) to 15.99 ± 2.21 (13–20) mmHg, but the change did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in mean axial length, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, or CCT after hemodialysis (p > 0.05 for all).

Although choroidal thickness and OPA may be decreased immediately after hemodialysis, there may be no significant changes in IOP or avascular ocular structures such as the lens and cornea.