The association between subfoveal choroidal thickness and refractive error in Taiwanese children: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Purpose The aim was to analyze the association of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) with age, best-corrected visual acuity, refractive error, and axial length in Taiwan pediatric population. Methods A total of 374 eyes in 187 children were enrolled in this retrospective cross-sectional comparative study, who underwent examinations of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cycloplegic refraction, and axial length (AL). Subfoveal choroidal thickness was assessed utilizing spectral domain enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), with measurements taken at the subfovea, defined as the distance from the retinal pigment epithelium to the chorioscleral border. Results The mean age was 5.6 ± 1.9 years (range 2–16 years). The cycloplegic spherical equivalent refractive error was between + 7.25 and - 15.25 diopters (D) and cycloplegic sphere power was between + 8.25 and - 11.5 diopters (D). The mean SFCT was 299.0 ± 69.80 μm. The mean axial length was 22.87 ± 1.29 mm. In univariate analysis, SFCT had significant positive correlations with spherical equivalent (SE) and sphere power (p < 0.05) and significant negative correlations with age, cylinder power, and axial length (p < 0.05). However, after adjusting in the multivariate regression analysis, spherical equivalent, sphere power and age were not independently associated with SFCT. In multivariate analysis, lower cylinder power and longer axial length have significant correlations with thinner SFCT. The relationship between best-corrected visual acuity and SFCT was not significant in both analyses. Conclusions This study showed that mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 299.0 ± 69.80 μm among Taiwanese children. The SFCT was thinner in myopic, longer axial length, and lower cylinder power eyes.