Correlation between optic disc deformation and retinal vasculature in non-pathological high myopia.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the correlation between optic disc deformation and retinal vasculature in high myopia. A total of 130 eyes with non-pathological high myopia were included in the current cross-sectional study. β-zone parapapillary atrophy (β-PPA), optic disc tilt ratio, and horizontal and vertical disc diameters were analyzed using fundus color photography. A 3x3 mm grid and a 4.5x4.5 mm grid were used to scan parafoveal and peripapillary regions, respectively, using optical coherence tomography angiography. Vessel flow density (VFD) and fractal dimension of the retina, as well as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were analyzed and quantified using en face projection images. Optic disc parameters that were associated with vascular changes were determined using multiple linear regression analysis. The results from the multivariate analysis revealed that β-PPA was negatively correlated with the VFD of the superficial retinal plexus (R=-2.805; P=0.006), deep retinal plexus (R=-2.801; P=0.006), radial parapapillary capillaries (R=-3.936; P<0.001) and enhanced-depth imaging of the fovea (R=-2.161; P=0.034). Additionally, FAZ was not significantly correlated with any factors in the current study. Age was negatively correlated with the VFD of the retina (R=-4.234; P<0.001), while the optic tilt ratio (R=-2.291; P=0.025) was negatively correlated with three sectors in the deep layer. Overall, the present results demonstrated that optic disc deformation was negatively correlated with the retinal microvasculature in non-pathological high myopia, particularly in the radial peripapillary capillaries and the deep retinal plexus. Therefore, optic disc deformation may be used to predict the retinal vasculature in high myopia.