Effect of oral contraceptive pills on the retinal microvascular structure: An optical coherence tomography angiography study

Abstract

BackgroundTo investigate the effect of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) on foveal avascular zone (FAZ), peripapillary capillary plexus, and superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) measurements. MethodsThis cross-sectionally designed study included 32 healthy female participants using OCPs (3 mg drospirenone and 0.03 mg ethinylestradiol) for at least one year for contraception and 32 healthy controls that did not use any drugs. All subjects were evaluated using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Using OCTA, the measurements of SCP, DCP, radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) vessel density; FAZ area and perimeter; acircularity index (AI); and foveal density (FD) were undertaken. Each participant's measurements were taken while they were in the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles (day 3). ResultsAge and body mass index did not significantly differ between the groups (p = 0.56 and p = 0.15, respectively). The DCP vessel densities in all the regions were lower in the OCP group (p<0.05 for all). The vessel densities of SCP and RPC, FAZ area and perimeter, AI, and FD were similar between the two groups (p>0.05 for all). ConclusionWe determined that the DCP vessel density was reduced in women using this drug. OCPs can cause changes in retinal microvascular structures. Therefore, OCTA can be used in the follow-up of healthy women using OCP.