Choroidal Circulation in 8- to 30-Year-Old Chinese, Measured by SS-OCT/OCTA: Relations to Age, Axial Length, and Choroidal Thickness

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and explore the determinants of choroidal vascularity and choriocapillaris perfusion in a Chinese population aged 8 to 30 years old. METHODS: Three hundred eighty eyes from 380 subjects aged 8 to 30 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Submacular choroidal thickness (ChT), total choroidal area (TCA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), choroidal vascularity index (CVI), and choriocapillaris flow deficit (CcFD) were estimated using images obtained from optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: In this population, the mean ChT was 260.4 ± 63.3 µm, TCA was 1.56 ± 0.38 mm(2), LA was 0.94 ± 0.25 mm(2), and SA was 0.62 ± 0.15 mm(2). The mean CVI was 60.25 ± 3.21% and CcFD was 11.95 ± 1.98%. Multivariable analyses showed that higher CVI and LA was associated with older age, thicker ChT, and shorter AL; and lower CcFD was associated with shorter AL. However, the associations were not uniformly rectilinear between CcFD and age. Specifically, CcFD was positively associated with age in subjects ≤19 years old and negatively associated with age in subjects >19 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Development of the choroidal medium- and large-sized vascular layers and choriocapillaris was different across patients aged 8 to 30 years old. Greater axial length was associated with attenuated choroidal circulation. Choroidal thickness correlated well with choroidal vascularity, but not with choriocapillaris perfusion. Further comprehensive and longitudinal assessment of choroidal vasculature and choriocapillaris perfusion will help greatly to understand the physiological and pathological mechanisms responsible for myopia.