Choroidal Changes in Anisometropic and Strabismic Children With Unilateral Amblyopia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To detect changes in the choroidal layer at the macular area in amblyopic eyes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 50 amblyopic patients (20 strabismic and 30 anisometropic) and 50 controls was done. Cross-sectional images using enhanced depth optical coherence tomography (OCT) were taken. Thicknesses were measured subfoveally and at 1,500 µm nasally, temporally, inferiorly, and superiorly. Submacular corresponding choroidal areas were also computed. Parameters were compared between amblyopic eyes, fellow eyes, and controls.

RESULTS: Significantly thicker choroid was detected in the subfoveal, temporal, and nasal locations (P = .007, .009, and .01, respectively) in amblyopic compared to fellow eyes; areas were also significantly greater temporally, nasally, and inferiorly. Significant differences in all choroidal measurements were found between amblyopic eyes and controls; these persisted only in the anisometropic subgroup.

CONCLUSION: Using enhanced depth OCT, the choroid of amblyopic eyes was observed to be thicker compared to normal fellow eyes and controls. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:900-907.].