Assessment of the effects of vitreopapillary adhesion on optic disc and macular parameters, and peripapillary choroidal vasculature.

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effects of vitreopapillary adhesion (VPA) on optic disc and macular parameters and on the peripapillary choroidal vasculature.

Methods: This retrospective study included 47 eyes of 47 participants with VPA, all of whom had no history of systemic or ocular disease. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to assess peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness. Images obtained from OCT were acquired and processed using ImageJ to calculate peripapillary choroidal vascular index (CVI). These measurements were then compared with those of 57 healthy controls.

Results: The mean age of the study group (26 males,21 females) was 63.57 ± 6.14 years, while the mean age of the control group (29 males, 28 females) was 63.31 ± 6.86 years, with no significant differences in age (p = 0.841) or gender (p = 0.652) between the groups. All participants in the study group had stage 3 posterior vitreous detachment. Although the mean RNFL thickness was thinner in all quadrants in the study group compared to the control group, these differences were not statistically significant: inferior (p = 0.116), superior (p = 0.192), nasal (p = 0.381), and temporal (p = 0.061) quadrants. In contrast, the GCC thickness was significantly thinner in the study group than in the control group across all quadrants: inferior (p = 0.003), inferonasal (p = 0.001), inferotemporal (p = 0.034), superior (p = 0.006), superonasal (p < 0.001), and superotemporal (p = 0.003). CVI was significantly lower in the inner nasal and inner temporal regions of the study group compared to the control group (p = 0.008, p < 0.001, respectively), but no significant differences were found in the outer nasal and outer temporal regions (p = 0.659, p < 0.825, respectively).

Conclusions: VMA may affect the optic disc, macular parameters, and choroidal vasculature. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Trial registration: Retrospectively registered. The study followed the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki, and it was approved by the local ethical committee (date:23.08.2023 number:2023/8-163).