Retinal Vessel Oxygen Saturation and its implications in myopia

Abstract

PurposeTo evaluate retinal vessel oxygen saturation and its relationship with ocular volume and axial length.MethodsWe included 65 healthy individuals (age range: 19–51 years) of varying axial lengths (20.74–28.24 mm). All subjects underwent full ocular examination including intra‐ocular pressure measurements and systemic blood pressure measurements which was followed by auto‐refraction, axial length, anterior chamber, corneal radii and retinal oxygen saturation assessments. In addition, all subjects underwent routine retinal photography which was used to determine their retinal arterial and venular calibres.ResultsRetinal vessel calibres, both arteries and venules were significantly decreasing with increasing axial length (arteries: β = −0.37; p < 0.001 and venules: β = −0.37; p < 0.001). Arterial vessel oxygenation showed a statistical significant relationship with axial length but not posterior volume (axial length: β = −0.88; p = 0.032 and posterior volume: β = 0.73; p = 0.075). Venous vessel saturation and oxygen consumption (A‐V) were independent of ocular length and volume.ConclusionsStructural vascular changes such as vessel narrowing combined with changes in posterior volume and those brought about from vitreous detachment and degeneration could explain oxygenation related glaucomatous changes in highly myopic individuals.