Department of Ophthalmology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 23;14(1):17013. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-67671-w.
This study aims to develop a method to quantify choroidal vessels in normal eyes using wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) en-face images. The study included participants with normal eyes in whom wide-angle OCT images were acquired to generate planarized choroidal en-face and thickness map images. The images were segmented into central, midperipheral, and peripheral areas, and the midperipheral and peripheral areas were further segmented into supratemporal, infratemporal, supranasal, and infranasal sectors. The mean planarized choroidal-vessel density (p-CVD), planarized choroidal-vessel size (p-CVS), and choroidal thickness (CT) were calculated in each sector. Sex differences were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The study included 162 participants comprising 84 female (mean age, 43.5 years; axial length, 24.0 mm) and 78 male (mean age, 44.4 years; axial length, 24.2 mm) participants with no significant differences in demographics (P ≥ 0.107). Men had a higher mean p-CVD in all regions (P < 0.001). The mean p-CVS was greater in men in all regions except for the supratemporal sector (P < 0.001). No significant differences in sex in the mean CT were observed in all regions (P ≥ 0.106). The p-CVD and p-CVS in normal eyes differ between sexes. This finding may contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of choroidal diseases.
本研究旨在开发一种使用广角光学相干断层扫描（OCT）横断面图像定量正常眼脉络膜血管的方法。研究纳入了正常眼参与者，他们接受了广角 OCT 图像采集，以生成平面化脉络膜横断面和厚度图图像。这些图像被分为中央、中周和周边区域，中周和周边区域进一步分为颞上、颞下、鼻上和鼻下扇区。在每个扇区计算平面化脉络膜血管密度（p-CVD）、平面化脉络膜血管大小（p-CVS）和脉络膜厚度（CT）的平均值。使用 Mann-Whitney U 检验分析性别差异。研究纳入了 162 名参与者，包括 84 名女性（平均年龄 43.5 岁；眼轴长 24.0 毫米）和 78 名男性（平均年龄 44.4 岁；眼轴长 24.2 毫米），两组在人口统计学方面无显著差异（P≥0.107）。男性在所有区域的平均 p-CVD 均较高（P<0.001）。男性在所有区域的平均 p-CVS 均大于女性，除了颞上扇区（P<0.001）。在所有区域，男女之间的平均 CT 无显著差异（P≥0.106）。正常眼中的 p-CVD 和 p-CVS 在性别之间存在差异。这一发现可能有助于理解脉络膜疾病的病理生理学。
