The following is a summary of “Effects of posterior staphyloma on choroidal structure in myopic adults: a retrospective study,” published in the October 2023 issue of Ophthalmology by Zhou et al.

Myopic eyes with posterior staphyloma have a thinner choroid. Researchers started a retrospective study to further investigate the effects of posterior staphyloma on choroidal blood vessels and matrix components in myopia.

They conducted a cross-sectional study involving 91 eyes, categorized into pathological myopia with posterior staphyloma and non-pathological myopia. The latter group was subsequently divided into three categories: Group 1 (axial length ≥ 26 mm), Group 2 (24 mm ≤ axial length < 26 mm), and Group 3 (22 mm ≤ axial length < 24 mm). They computed choroidal thickness, total choroidal area, luminal area, stromal area, and choroidal vascularity index.

The results showed that CVI in the posterior staphyloma group’s N1, N2, I1, and S2 exhibited lower values than group 1 (both P < 0.05). The mean height of posterior staphyloma negatively correlated with the mean Choroidal Thickness (CT) (Pearson correlation: r = -0.578, P=0.039). Still, it did not link with the mean CVI in the posterior staphyloma group. In all groups, the mean Choroidal Thickness, Total Choroidal Area, Luminal Area, and Stromal Area demonstrated significant associations with axial length (P<0.001), and the mean Choroidal Vascularity Index was significantly linked to the mean Choroidal Thickness (P<0.001).

Investigators concluded a lower choroidal vascularity index in pathological myopia with posterior staphyloma and non-pathological myopia with axial length > 26 mm suggests vascular impairment.

Source: bmcophthalmol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12886-023-03158-y