Decreased choroidal vascularity index and subfoveal choroidal thickness in vitamin D insufficiency

Abstract

Background: To present the effects of vitamin D insufficiency on the choroidal vascularity index, central choroid and central macula.

Methods: 42 eyes of 42 patients with vitamin D insufficiency and 51 eyes of 51 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in this retrospective, cross-sectional, and comparative study. The macular layer was examined using the retinal mapping mode of the spectral domain Optical coherence tomography (Optovue RTVue XR, Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were taken in Enhanced Deep Imaging mode and transferred to Image J program. choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) measurements were evaluated.

Results: The mean age of volunteers was 35.4 ± 7.2 years. There was a significant difference in CVI values 67.75±2.4 in the patients with vitamin D insufficiency and 69.22±1.75 in the control group. The SCFT of patients with vitamin D insufficiency and control group were 295.25±42.3 and 335.71±11.6 (p = 0.001, p<0.001 respectively).

Conclusion: OCT examination of patients with vitamin D insufficiency showed a decrease in CVI and SCFT values. These results are important in demonstrating the retinochoroidal effects of vitamin D insufficiency.

Keywords: Choroidal thickness; Choroidal vascularity index; EDI‑OCT; Vitamin d insufficiency.