Purpose: To investigate the choriocapillary circulation in the macular area for eyes with unilateral idiopathic macular hole (IMH) before and after vitrectomy using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
Methods: A prospective study of 25 patients with unilateral IMH who underwent vitrectomy and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. Choriocapillary circulation was measured by OCTA to obtain two measurements: flow area and parafovea vessel density.
Results: Flow area and parafovea vessel density of choriocapillaris in the macular area were significantly smaller and lower in IMH eyes than unaffected fellow eyes and healthy control eyes (p < 0.001), while no difference was found between unaffected fellow eyes and the healthy control eyes. One month after vitrectomy, the choriocapillary flow area and parafovea vessel density of IMH eyes significantly increased compared to the peroperative measurements (p < 0.001). Association analysis found that choriocapillary circulation measurements were negatively correlated with macular hole diameters in IMH eyes (p < 0.001), but was independent with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
Conclusions: The macular choriocapillary flow area and parafovea vessel density in IMH eyes were lower than those of normal controls. In addition, the choriocapillary circulation was negatively correlated with macular hole diameter. Our findings suggested that choroidal circulation in the macular area might be affected by the intact structure of the fovea.
Keywords: Choriocapillaris; Idiopathic macular hole; OCT-angiography; Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography; Vitrectomy.