Role of Ultra-widefield Imaging in the evaluation of Long-term change of highly myopic fundus.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of posterior staphyloma identified using ultra-widefield fundus imaging on the long-term progression of myopic maculopathy in highly myopic patients.

METHODS

In this observational cohort study, highly myopic patients who were followed up for at least 5 years using ultra-widefield fundus imaging were analysed for fundus abnormalities and the progression of myopic maculopathy based on the International Meta-analysis of Pathologic Myopia classification.

RESULTS

This study included 390 eyes (210 patients) with the mean follow-up period of 69.2 ± 7.5 months (range, 60-88). Posterior staphyloma was identified in 198 eyes (50.8%) in the baseline ultra-widefield fundus images. The border of staphyloma was not identified within 50° view circle corresponding to conventional fundus photography in 42 eyes (21.2%) with staphyloma, most of that were wide macular type. Progression of myopic maculopathy during follow-up was observed in 202 eyes (51.8%), and eyes with staphyloma were more likely to show progression compared to those without (142/198 [71.7%] versus 60/192 [31.3%]; p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, the presence of posterior staphyloma was an independent risk factor for the progression of myopic maculopathy (p = 0.005). One or more peripheral retinal lesions were observed in 302 eyes (77.4%) and 321 eyes (82.3%) in the baseline and final ultra-widefield fundus images, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Posterior staphyloma was associated with the long-term progression of myopic maculopathy. With a wider field of view, ultra-widefield fundus imaging is useful for identifying the posterior staphyloma and monitoring the progression of myopic maculopathy in highly myopic patients.