Comparison of choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular index in normotensive dippers and nondippers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular index in normotensive individuals with dipping and nondipping patterns. METHODS: Patients who applied to the cardiology clinic for routine checkups and underwent 24-h blood pressure monitoring were included in our study. They were divided into two groups based on their dipper status. The patients in whom systolic blood pressure decreased during the nocturnal time by 10% or more of the daily blood pressure were defined as dippers. On the contrary, patients whose nocturnal systolic blood pressure decreased by less than 10% were defined as nondippers. Choroidal thickness and choroidal vascular index were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Central macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell layer (GCL) analyses were also recorded. RESULTS: In total, 35 patients with dipper pattern and 34 patients with nondipper pattern were recruited. The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 349.72±90 µm in the dipper group and 358.54±132.5 µm in the nondipper group. The groups had no significant difference in choroidal thickness, central macular thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer, and ganglion cell layer analyses. However, the choroidal vascular index was statistically significantly lower in the nondipper group when compared to the dipper group (0.61±0.02 vs. 0.64±0.02; p<0.001). Also, the choroidal vascular index was negatively correlated with subfoveal choroidal thickness in the nondipper group (Spearman; r=-0.419; p=0.033). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the choroidal vascular index was significantly lower in nondippers than in dippers. Nondipper individuals may be affected by vascular dysregulation, leading to alterations in the choroidal circulation.

Choroid and Retinal Effects of Epilepsy and Epilepsy Subgroups.

Objectives: The objective were to evaluate structural alterations in the retina and choroid tissue of epilepsy patients and subtypes using enhanced depth imaging optic coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Methods: 46 epilepsy patients and 50 sex- and age-matched control patients were analyzed in the study. Patients' epilepsy types were recorded. The central macular thickness (CMT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), and choroidal thickness (CT) were investigated through the Spectralis-OCT device (SD-OCT). Image-J program was used to calculate the total choroidal area (TCA), the luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Results: CMT, TCA, LA, and SA outcomes were substantially reduced in epilepsy patients than in healthy controls. There was no significant difference between CT, RNFL, GCL, CVI results. There were no statistically significant differences between patients with partial and generalized epilepsy (p>0.05 for each). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, epilepsy disease has effects on the posterior segment of the eye. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to evaluate CVI in patients with epilepsy and the epilepsy subgroups.