Parapapillary choroidal microvasculature dropout in nonglaucomatous healthy eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the incidence of parapapillary choroidal microvasculature dropout (MvD) in nonglaucomatous healthy eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to characterize the MvD observed in these eyes. Methods: Seventy-six eyes (19 eyes with an MvD and 57 age-matched eyes without an MvD) from a cohort of 297 nonglaucomatous healthy eyes that underwent OCTA were included. The peripapillary choroidal microvasculature was evaluated in en-face images obtained using swept-source OCTA. An MvD was defined as a focal sectoral capillary dropout with no visible microvascular network identified in the en-face images of the choroidal layer. The incidence of MvD and clinical characteristics associated with the presence of an MvD was determined. Results: MvD was found in 19 of the 297 nonglaucomatous healthy eyes (6.4%). Compared with age-matched eyes without an MvD, eyes with an MvD had lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.021), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.048), mean arterial pressure (p = 0.025) and mean ocular perfusion pressure (p = 0.032). Logistic regression analyses showed that cold extremities (p = 0.046), lower mean arterial pressure (p = 0.021) and lower mean ocular perfusion pressure (p = 0.023) were associated with the presence of an MvD. Conclusions: Parapapillary choroidal MvD can be present in nonglaucomatous healthy eyes. The presence of an MvD is associated with systemic vascular dysregulation.