Evaluation of peripapillary and subfoveal choroid thickness in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it aims to investigate the effect of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis on peripapillary and subfoveal choroid thickness using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Patients and Methods: While investigating for coronary artery disease, 76 patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and 35 patients with normal carotid artery (total = 111) were evaluated. Patients according to the degree of stenosis were divided into four categories as non-stenosis (n = 35), mild (n = 26), moderate (n = 27) and severe stenosis (n = 23). Subfoveal and peripapillary choroid thickness, ocular perfusion and intraocular pressures of all patients were measured using a Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography after general ophthalmological examination. In addition, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and whether there is a relationship between smoking status and choroid thickness was compared. Results: As the degree of carotid artery stenosis increased, subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness decreased significantly. However, no changes were detected in ocular perfusion and intraocular pressure values (p=0.935, p=0.519). Decrease in peripapillary and subfoveal choroid thickness values was found to be particularly between the group with severe stenosis and the group with control and mild stenosis (p = 0.003, p = 0.001). In addition, as the degree of carotid stenosis increased in patients with hypertension and smoking, peripapillary choroid thickness was found to be thinner (p=0.003). Conclusion: We believe that the possibility of carotid artery stenosis should be considered in cases with decreased choroid thickness. In addition, we think that even if it is asympto-matic, in cases with severe carotid stenosis, in the presence of choroidal thinning, a chance of surgical intervention should be given to the stenosis.