Polarization-Sensitive OCT Imaging of Scleral Abnormalities in Eyes With High Myopia and Dome-Shaped Macula.

Importance: The relevance of visualizing scleral fiber orientation may offer insights into the pathogenesis of pathologic myopia, including dome-shaped maculopathy (DSM). Objective: To investigate the orientation and density of scleral collagen fibers in highly myopic eyes with and without DSM by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). Design, Setting, and Participants: This case series included patients with highly myopic eyes (defined as a refractive error ≥6 diopters or an axial length ≥26.5 mm) with and without a DSM examined at a single site in May and June 2019. Analysis was performed from September 2019 to October 2023. Exposures: The PS-OCT was used to study the birefringence and optic axis of the scleral collagen fibers. Main Outcomes and Measures: The orientation and optic axis of scleral fibers in inner and outer layers of highly myopic eyes were assessed, and the results were compared between eyes with and without a DSM. Results: A total of 72 patients (51 [70.8%] female; mean [SD] age, 61.5 [12.8] years) were included, and 89 highly myopic eyes were examined (mean [SD] axial length, 30.4 [1.7] mm); 52 (58.4%) did not have a DSM and 37 (41.6%) had a DSM (10 bidirectional [27.0%] and 27 horizontal [73.0%]). Among the 52 eyes without DSM, the 13 eyes with simple high myopia had primarily inner sclera visible, displaying radially oriented fibers in optic axis images. In contrast, the entire thickness of the sclera was visible in 39 eyes with pathologic myopia. In these eyes, the optic axis images showed vertically oriented fibers within the outer sclera. Eyes presenting with both horizontal and bidirectional DSMs had clusters of fibers with low birefringence at the site of the DSM. In the optic axis images, horizontally or obliquely oriented scleral fibers were aggregated in the inner layer at the DSM. The vertical fibers located posterior to the inner fiber aggregation were not thickened and appeared thin compared with the surrounding areas. Conclusions and Relevance: This study using PS-OCT revealed inner scleral fiber aggregation without outer scleral thickening at the site of the DSM in highly myopic eyes. Given the common occurrence of scleral pathologies, such as DSM, and staphylomas in eyes with pathologic myopia, recognizing these fiber patterns could be important. These insights may be relevant to developing targeted therapies to address scleral abnormalities early and, thus, mitigate potential damage to the overlying neural tissue.

Characteristics and Prevalence of Staphyloma Edges at Different Ages in Highly Myopic Eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of staphyloma edges in highly myopic eyes and how they progress. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data and a longitudinal study with follow-up data from 256 patients (447 eyes) with high myopia, with a mean (SD) follow-up of 3.79 (0.78) years. Participants were divided into four age groups: children (<13), youth (13-24), mature (25-59), and elderly (>60). Ultrawide-field swept-source optical coherence tomography was used to analyze staphyloma edges, which were divided into four areas: nasal to the optic disc (OD), superior to the macula, inferior to the macula, and temporal to the macula. Results: Staphylomas were significantly more prevalent in the mature (42.49%) and the elderly (51.35%) groups than in the children (13%) and youth (9%) groups. Staphyloma edges were predominantly superior to the macula in the mature and elderly groups. In contrast, staphylomas were rare in children and youth, with their edges mainly located nasal to the OD. The edges of staphylomas located superior and temporal to the macula were more likely to be associated with myopic traction maculopathy. During the follow-up period, 11 new staphyloma edges developed primarily in the mature group (64%). Additionally, 12 edges had an increased degree of protrusion over time, with most cases occurring in the mature (75%) group. Conclusions: The prevalence and location of staphyloma edges show significant variations depending on age. As time progresses, staphyloma edges manifest at distinct sites and increase their protrusion, potentially playing a role in the emergence of fundus complications.

LONGITUDINAL CHANGES OF POSTERIOR VORTEX VEINS IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES DETERMINED BY RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSES OF INDOCYANINE GREEN ANGIOGRAMS.

PURPOSE: To assess the longitudinal changes of the posterior vortex veins (VVs) in highly myopic (HM) eyes. METHODS: The medical records of 1,730 consecutive HM eyes that had undergone indocyanine green angiography were studied. Eyes that had posterior VVs and had undergone at least two indocyanine green angiography examinations with a minimum interval of 3 years were selected from this group. RESULTS: Ninety-one eyes of 78 patients met the inclusion criteria. A total of 124 posterior VVs were identified. Over an average interval of 7.8 ± 5.0 years, 41 (33.1%) of the 124 posterior VVs had marked changes consisting mainly of an attenuation of vessels in 36 posterior VVs (87.8%) and alterations in the drainage course in 16 posterior VVs (39.0%). Fifteen posterior VVs had both types of changes. Most of the attenuations of the vessels occurred for smaller branches, but a complete loss of the entire trunk was seen in three eyes. Additionally, four eyes had posterior VV changes in association with changes of peripheral VVs. CONCLUSION: Posterior VV in highly myopic eyes can undergo changes with increasing time. The associated factors included the development and progression of myopic maculopathy lesions. In some cases, the blood drainage shifted from posterior VV to peripheral VV by forming anastomotic channels.

NEODYMIUM-DOPED YTTRIUM ALUMINUM GARNET LASER ABLATION OF INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE TO TREAT MYOPIC MACULAR RETINOSCHISIS: CASE SERIES.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser ablation of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) to treat myopic macular retinoschisis. METHODS: Four patients with myopic myopic macular retinoschisis that extended out of the macular area were studied. All patients underwent yttrium aluminum garnet laser ablation of the detached ILM in the paramacular area, and the eyes were examined by ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography at the baseline and 6 months after the treatment. The measured outcomes were the foveal retinal thickness and the best-corrected visual acuity. RESULTS: Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser was applied to the paramacular ILM in all four eyes. In each eye, the procedure failed to disrupt the ILM, and no significant changes were observed in foveal retinal thickness or best-corrected visual acuity subsequently. No serious adverse event occurred in all eyes. A transient intraretinal hemorrhage developed at the site of the application in two eyes but resolved within a week after the treatment. CONCLUSION: Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser was applied to ILM in the peripheral macula in eyes with myopic macular retinoschisis. However, the lack of a reduction of the foveal thickness and improvement of the best-corrected visual acuity indicate that accurate focusing system is needed to treat eyes with myopic macular retinoschisis.

Machine Learning Models for Predicting Long-Term Visual Acuity in Highly Myopic Eyes.

Importance: High myopia is a global concern due to its escalating prevalence and the potential risk of severe visual impairment caused by pathologic myopia. Using artificial intelligence to estimate future visual acuity (VA) could help clinicians to identify and monitor patients with a high risk of vision reduction in advance. Objective: To develop machine learning models to predict VA at 3 and 5 years in patients with high myopia. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, single-center, cohort study was performed on patients whose best-corrected VA (BCVA) at 3 and 5 years was known. The ophthalmic examinations of these patients were performed between October 2011 and May 2021. Thirty-four variables, including general information, basic ophthalmic information, and categories of myopic maculopathy based on fundus and optical coherence tomography images, were collected from the medical records for analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Regression models were developed to predict BCVA at 3 and 5 years, and a binary classification model was developed to predict the risk of developing visual impairment at 5 years. The performance of models was evaluated by discrimination metrics, calibration belts, and decision curve analysis. The importance of relative variables was assessed by explainable artificial intelligence techniques. Results: A total of 1616 eyes from 967 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.5 [14.0] years; 678 female [70.1%]) were included in this analysis. Findings showed that support vector machines presented the best prediction of BCVA at 3 years (R2 = 0.682; 95% CI, 0.625-0.733) and random forest at 5 years (R2 = 0.660; 95% CI, 0.604-0.710). To predict the risk of visual impairment at 5 years, logistic regression presented the best performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.870; 95% CI, 0.816-0.912). The baseline BCVA (logMAR odds ratio [OR], 0.298; 95% CI, 0.235-0.378; P < .001), prior myopic macular neovascularization (OR, 3.290; 95% CI, 2.209-4.899; P < .001), age (OR, 1.578; 95% CI, 1.227-2.028; P < .001), and category 4 myopic maculopathy (OR, 4.899; 95% CI, 1.431-16.769; P = .01) were the 4 most important predicting variables and associated with increased risk of visual impairment at 5 years. Conclusions and Relevance: Study results suggest that developing models for accurate prediction of the long-term VA for highly myopic eyes based on clinical and imaging information is feasible. Such models could be used for the clinical assessments of future visual acuity.

Dome-shaped macula with protrusion of inner part of sclera.

Purpose: To report our findings in a patient with a two layered dome shaped macula (DSM) in which only the inner layer of the sclera protruded anteriorly. Observations: An 84-year-old woman with high myopia had a DSM in both eyes. The optical coherence tomographic (OCT) image of the left eye showed a uniform thickening of the foveal sclera, but the DSM of the right eye was split into an inner and outer layer by intrascleral blood vessels running between the two layers. OCT showed that only the inner layer of the sclera protruded anteriorly while the outer layer remained in its normal position. Conclusions and importance: The two layered DSM suggests that the etiology of DSMs may be more complex.

MORPHOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS AND PROGRESSION PATTERNS OF MACULAR NEOVASCULARIZATION-RELATED ATROPHY IN EYES WITH PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To investigate the development and progression patterns of macular neovascularization (MNV)-related atrophies in eyes with pathologic myopia. METHODS: Twenty-seven eyes of 26 patients with MNV followed from its onset to progression to macular atrophy were studied. A longitudinal series of autofluorescence and optical coherence tomography images were examined for the patterns of MNV-related atrophy. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity were determined for each pattern. RESULTS: The mean age was 67.2 ± 8.7 years. The mean axial length was 29.6 ± 1.5 mm. Three patterns of atrophy were identified: multiple-atrophic pattern, 63% of the eyes had small atrophies occurring at multiple sites around the MNV edge; single-atrophic pattern, 18.5% had atrophies occurring only on one side of the MNV edge; and exudation-related pattern, 18.5% had atrophy occurring within a previous serous exudation or hemorrhagic area and slightly away from the MNV edge. Eyes with atrophies in multiple-atrophic and exudation-related patterns progressed to large macular atrophies involving the central fovea and showed decrease in best-corrected visual acuity during the 3-year follow-up period. Eyes with single-atrophic pattern had a sparing of the fovea and had good recovery of the best-corrected visual acuity. CONCLUSION: There are three patterns of MNV-related atrophy in eyes with pathologic myopia with different courses of progression.

LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CHANGES IN INNER SCLERAL CURVATURE PATTERNS AND DEVELOPMENT OF POSTERIOR STAPHYLOMAS IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

PURPOSE: To determine the longitudinal changes in patterns of inner scleral curvature and development of posterior staphylomas in the eyes of highly myopic youths. METHODS: A retrospective, longitudinal study. Ultra-widefield optic coherence tomographic (UWF-OCT) images from 47 eyes of 24 highly myopic patients with a follow-up period of 2 to 4 years were analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, the children group younger than 10 years and the adolescents group aged 11 to 19 years. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, the scleral curvature patterns changed in either the horizontal or vertical optical coherence tomographic sections in 27 of the 46 eyes (58.7%) of both groups. The changes were significantly more frequent in children than adolescents. The change in the vertical section from symmetrical to asymmetrical in almost of children was correlated with an increase in the axial length and myopia. Four eyes had a staphyloma at the baseline. The staphyloma developed in six eyes of the remaining 43 eyes (14%). All staphyloma edges were found at or around the optic disc and were oriented in the horizontal direction. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that UWF-OCT images can be used to determine the process of new staphyloma formation and concurrent changes in scleral curvature patterns.

COMPLEX HEMODYNAMICS OF INTERVORTEX VEIN ANASTOMOSES IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES.

PURPOSE: To analyze the complex pattern of filling of the intervortex vein (IVV) anastomoses through large trunks in highly myopic eyes based on indocyanine green angiographic (ICGA) videos. METHODS: The medical records of 1,060 consecutive highly myopic eyes that had undergone ICGA were studied. IVV anastomoses were identified in the ICGA images, and the ICGA images and videos were analyzed comprehensively to characterize their hemodynamic features. RESULTS: Seven eyes with IVV anastomoses through large trunks were analyzed. In the ICGA videos of six eyes, laminar flow was observed in the IVV anastomotic vessels. The laminar flow started in the arterial phase in two eyes, with pulsatile fashion in 1 of them. The flow began in the early arteriovenous transition phase in four eyes. The laminar flow continued for a mean of 12.17 ± 3.06 seconds, and the remaining section was gradually filled slower than the surrounding veins. The anastomotic trunk for the remaining one eye was too narrow to be analyzed. Four eyes had longitudinal ICGA records, and two had significant attenuation and narrowing of the anastomotic vessels. CONCLUSION: The very early filling of part of the IVV anastomoses suggests that arteriovenous anastomoses are involved in the IVV of highly myopic eyes. However, this suggestion needs further study. There may be similar pathogenesis for IVV anastomoses either in thick or thin sclera.

Papillary and Peripapillary Hemorrhages in Eyes With Pathologic Myopia.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence, characteristics, and causes of papillary and peripapillary hemorrhages (PPHs) in eyes with pathologic myopia (PM). Methods: PM patients were retrospectively studied between 2011 and 2018. Fundus images were used to diagnose and classify the PPHs. Fundus fluorescein angiographic (FFA) and optical coherence tomographic (OCT) images were used to determine the status of the retinal vessels and tissue at and around the PPH sites. Visual field data determined by Goldmann perimetry and Humphrey visual field analyzer were also analyzed. Results: A total of 2171 PM patients (3774 eyes) were examined. Eighty-eight patients (97 eyes) had PPHs (mean age 66.8 ± 11.9 years; mean axial length 30.79 ± 2.17 mm) for a prevalence of 4.05%. Thirty (30.9%) eyes recurred. Among the 90 eyes with a single-site PPH, the most common type and location were the conus type (49 eyes, 54.4%) and the temporal side (66 eyes, 73.3%), respectively. Regression analysis showed that patchy atrophy reduced the risk of recurrences than diffuse atrophy (P < 0.05), whereas a longer axial length and potential glaucoma increased the risk (both P < 0.05). FFA and OCT showed that PPHs developed in the area of straightened retinal arterioles (24 eyes), at or beside the peak of a ridge (10 eyes), in an area of compressed retinal tissue (two eyes). Conclusions: PPHs are present in 4.05% of PM eyes, and they are most often located in the temporal peripapillary atrophic region of the retina. Axial elongation, mild myopic maculopathy, and potential glaucoma are risk factors for recurrences.

Hospital-based study of risk factors associated with development of myopic macular neovascularization in highly myopic eyes.

INTRODUCTION: Myopic macular neovascularization (MNV) is the most common cause of a reduction of central vision in eyes with pathologic myopia, and it can progress to macular atrophy in the long-term. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with the development of MNVs. METHODS: There were 17,198 follow-up records from 5,409 eyes of 2,784 highly myopic patients that were reviewed. The general information and ophthalmic information in the records were studied. The significance of the correlations of factors associated with the development and predicting the development of myopic MNV were determined. RESULTS: Being a woman (odds ratio [OR]: 0.727, P<0.001), having a longer axial length (OR = 0.948, P<0.001), a poorer baseline best-correct visual acuity (BCVA, OR = 2.098, P<0.001), having severe myopic maculopathy (overall: P<0.001), prior myopic MNV in the fellow eye (OR = 4.105, P<0.001), presence of patchy atrophy (overall P<0.001), lacquer cracks (OR = 1.718, P<0.001), prior foveal retinal detachment (RD, OR = 3.269, P<0.001), prior macular hole (MH, OR = 0.641, P <0.001), prior macular retinoschisis (OR = 1.533, P<0.001), and prior macular edema (OR = 1.508, P<0.001) were significantly correlated with the development of myopic MNV. Eyes with MNV and patchy atrophy would require an intensive follow-up examination for myopic patients as the fellow eye would have a risk of >70% for the development of myopic MNV in 3-years and nearly 80% in 5-years. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians need to pay special attention to eyes with severe grades of myopic maculopathy, prior myopic MNV in the fellow eye, presence of patchy atrophy, and prior foveal retinal detachment to determine the onset of myopic MNV.

EXTREME MACULAR SCHISIS-SIMULATING RETINAL DETACHMENT IN EYES WITH PATHOLOGIC MYOPIA.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical and imaging characteristics, natural course, and surgical outcomes of pathologic myopic eyes with an extreme macular schisis simulating a retinal detachment (EMSSRD). METHODS: The data of 617 highly myopic eyes with myopic traction maculopathy were studied. The diagnosis of EMSSRD in the optical coherence tomography images was made based on a high elevation of the retina (>500 µ m), less obvious columnar structures, and the presence of thin remnants of outer retinal tissues above the retinal pigment epithelium. RESULTS: Among 617 eyes, 25 eyes had an EMSSRD. All of the eyes with an EMSSRD had macular atrophy caused by myopic macular neovascularization. In the five eyes they had progressed to MHRD, the retinal detachment started away from the macular atrophy. Among the 10 eyes which required surgery, there was no significant difference in the presurgical and postsurgical best-corrected visual acuity between the eyes operated because of a worsening of the EMSSRD and the eyes operated because of a progression to MHRD. CONCLUSION: In severely myopic eyes with macular neovascularization-related macular atrophy, a novel condition termed EMSSRD can be present. The optical coherence tomography images resemble those of a MHRD except the presence of thin remnants of the retina remaining on the retinal pigment epithelium.

ANOMALIES OF CHOROIDAL VENOUS STRUCTURE IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES.

PURPOSE: To identify anomalies of choroidal venous structure in highly myopic (HM) eyes. METHODS: Widefield indocyanine green angiographic images of 175 HM eyes (refractive error ≤ -6.0D diopters or axial length >26.5 mm) and 100 control eyes taken between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age and gender between HM patients and controls. Three types of changes of large choroidal veins were found in 103 HM eyes (58.86%): Asymmetry of vortex veins in 44 eyes (25.14%), isolated long vein across the macula in 58 eyes (33.14%), and intervortex anastomoses in 25 eyes (14.29%). Similar changes in controls were found in 12 eyes (12%), 0 eye (0%), and 2 eyes (2%), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the HM group (all P < 0.05). The patterns of asymmetry were affected by steeper staphyloma edges and anastomoses were observed through large trunks and terminal venules. In two eyes with large trunk anastomosis, attenuation of the less dominant vortex vein was observed afterward. CONCLUSION: Choroidal venous anomalies are more common in HM eyes than controls. Choroidal venous structure in HM eyes may be altering continuously, and such changes may underlie the development of myopic maculopathy.

Structural Abnormalities in the Papillary and Peripapillary Areas and Corresponding Visual Field Defects in Eyes With Pathologic Myopia.

Purpose: To identify structural abnormalities in the papillary and peripapillary area in eyes with pathologic myopia (PM) and normal IOP and to determine their relationship to visual field (VF) defects. Methods: One hundred eight eyes of 70 patients with PM were retrospectively studied. The disc-centered swept source optical coherence tomographic images and the Goldmann VF recorded within 1 year of the optical coherence tomographic examination were analyzed. Four structural abnormalities were identified: lamina cribrosa (LC) defects, ridge protrusions, intrachoroidal cavitations (ICC), and prelaminar schisis. The correspondence of the VF defects with the structural abnormalities was assessed. Results: The mean age, axial length, and optic disc area of the 108 eyes were 58.7 ± 10.0 years, 31.1 ± 2.4 mm, and 4.7 ± 2.2 mm2, respectively. Eighty-five of the 108 eyes (78.7%) had at least one abnormality and 49.4% (42/85) had two or more abnormalities. LC defects, ridge protrusions, ICC, and prelaminar schisis were detected in 47.2%, 33.3%, 21.3%, and 30.6% of the eyes, respectively. VF defects at the corresponding areas of these structural abnormalities were seen in 63% of the eyes with LC defects, 39% of the eyes with ridge protrusions, and 21% of the eyes with ICC. Conclusions: Four kinds of structural abnormalities with corresponding VF defects are commonly observed in the papillary and peripapillary region of eyes with PM. The presence of these abnormalities suggests a possibility of functional damage.

Validation of Soft Labels in Developing Deep Learning Algorithms for Detecting Lesions of Myopic Maculopathy From Optical Coherence Tomographic Images.

PURPOSE: It is common for physicians to be uncertain when examining some images. Models trained with human uncertainty could be a help for physicians in diagnosing pathologic myopia. DESIGN: This is a hospital-based study that included 9176 images from 1327 patients that were collected between October 2015 and March 2019. METHODS: All collected images were graded by 21 myopia specialists according to the presence of myopic neovascularization (MNV), myopic traction maculopathy (MTM), and dome-shaped macula (DSM). Hard labels were made by the rule of major wins, while soft labels were possibilities calculated by whole grading results from the different graders. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristics curve, the area under precision-recall (AUPR) curve, F-score, and least square errors were used to evaluate the performance of the models. RESULTS: The AUC values of models trained by soft labels in MNV, MTM, and DSM models were 0.985, 0.946, and 0.978; and the AUPR values were 0.908, 0.876, and 0.653 respectively. However, 0.56% of MNV "negative" cases were answered as "positive" with high certainty by the hard label model, whereas no case was graded with extreme errors by the soft label model. The same results were found for the MTM (0.95% vs none) and DSM (0.43% vs 0.09%) models. CONCLUSIONS: The predicted possibilities from the models trained by soft labels were close to the results made by myopia specialists. These findings could inspire the novel use of deep learning models in the medical field.

ULTRA-WIDEFIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FOR RETINAL DETACHMENT WITH PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of using preoperative and postoperative ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography) images in the treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS: The preoperative and postoperative images of a 62-year-old man with proliferative vitreoretinopathy accompanied by a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were analyzed. PATIENT: At the initial examination, the vision was 20/400. It was difficult to obtain clear images of the fundus by color fundus photography because of synechia iridis posterior and mild vitreal opacities. Three-dimensional ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography images showed that the posterior hyaloid membrane was adherent to the retinal surface at a region superior to the macula. A space was present between the hyaloid membrane and retina in the images. During surgery, the hyaloid membrane was pierced over this space without injuring the retina, and the membrane was successfully removed. After surgery, the retina was reattached and a remnant of the proliferative tissue was detected in the ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography images. Four months after the surgery, the vision improved to 20/40. CONCLUSION: Ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography can be used to examine the spatial relationship between a proliferative membrane and the retina in eyes with proliferative vitreoretinopathy even when the preoperative fundus images obtained by conventional methods are not clear.

Continued Increase of Axial Length and Its Risk Factors in Adults With High Myopia.

IMPORTANCE: Pathologic myopia due to an excessive increase of axial length is associated with severe visual impairments. Systematic analyses to determine the rate of and the risk factors associated with the axial elongation in adults with high myopia based on long-term follow-up of a large population are needed. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors associated with axial elongation in adults with high myopia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study used the medical records of 43 201 patient visits in a single-hospital database that were collected from January 3, 2011, to December 28, 2018. A total of 15 745 medical records with the patients' sex, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), axial length, type of myopic maculopathy, and the presence or absence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) were reviewed. Data were analyzed from April 3, 2019, to August 5, 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Changes in the axial length at each examination were calculated. The significance of the associations between the annual increase of the axial length and age, sex, baseline axial length, types of myopic maculopathy, and a history of CNV was determined. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the strength of the risk factors associated with an increase of the axial length in high myopia. RESULTS: Among 1877 patients with 9161 visits included in the analysis, the mean (SD) age was 62.10 (12.92) years, and 1357 (72.30%) were women. The mean (SD) axial length was 29.66 (2.20) mm with a mean (SD) growth rate of 0.05 (0.24) mm/y. Among the 9161 visits, 7096 eyes (77.46%) had myopic maculopathy and 2477 eyes (27.04%) had CNV. The odds ratio for inducing a severe elongation of the axial length was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.38-1.55) for female sex, 0.44 (95% CI, 0.35-0.56) to 0.63 (95% CI, 13 0.50-0.78) for older than 40 years, 1.33 (95% CI, 1.15-1.54) for BCVA of less than 20/400, 1.67 (95% CI, 1.54-1.81) to 2.67 (95% CI, 2.46-2.88) for baseline axial length of 28.15 mm or greater, 1.06 (95% CI, 0.96-1.17) to 1.39 (95% CI, 1.24-1.55) for the presence of maculopathy, and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.29-1.47) for prior CNV. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This cohort study found continuing axial elongation in adults with high myopia. The risk factors for elongation do not appear to be modifiable, so prevention of myopia may be the best approach to reduce the incidence of pathologic myopia and its complications in the future.

Posterior vitreous detachment and paravascular retinoschisis in highly myopic young patients detected by ultra-widefield OCT.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and retinoschisis (RS) in 73 highly myopic (HM) young patients age 16.4 ± 6.9 years and 24 non-HM children age 8.4 ± 1.5 years. The presence of the paravascular retinal abnormalities was determined in the images obtained by a ultra-widefield OCT (UWF OCT) instrument with an image field of 23 × 20 mm. The results showed that a partial PVD was detected in 15 (21%) of the HM patients, and the number increased significantly with increasing age (P = 0.02). PVDs of any type were not found in the non-HM eyes. The number of microvascular folds also increased with age in the HM patients (P = 0.03). Medium-reflective columnar tissues were present between the detached vitreous and inner retinal surface in 4 (5%) eyes of the HM patients. Myopic RS was found in 3 (4%) HM patients in the paravascular area but not in the macular area. These results suggest that early partial PVD may play a role in pathological and proliferative vitreous changes of HM eyes. An intense vitreoretinal traction with bridging tissues may cause the various paravascular retinal abnormalities. In HM eyes, paravascular RS is already present at an early age which may progress to macular RS with aging.

Importance of Paravascular Vitreal Adhesions for Development of Myopic Macular Retinoschisis Detected by Ultra-Widefield OCT.

PURPOSE: To examine most postequatorial retina in eyes with myopic macular retinoschisis (MRS) by ultra-widefield (UWF) OCT and to determine whether paravascular vitreal adhesions play a role in the development of MRS. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fifty highly myopic participants who were older than 50 years with and without an MRS were studied. High myopia was defined as an eye with an axial length of more than 26.5 mm. METHODS: All participants underwent UWF OCT imaging with a scan width of 23 mm and a depth of 5 mm using a prototype swept-source OCT device. The vitreoretinal adhesions to the foveal retina and retinal vessels and paravascular abnormalities, including paravascular retinal cysts, paravascular retinoschisis, and paravascular lamellar holes, were analyzed in the UWF OCT images. The findings in eyes with an MRS were compared with those in eyes without an MRS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationships between MRS and vitreal adhesions to the retinal vessels or to the fovea were determined. RESULTS: An MRS was found in 49 of the 150 eyes (33%). Vitreal adhesions to the retinal vessels were found more frequently in eyes with an MRS than in eyes without an MRS (63% vs. 44%; P = 0.04). In contrast, the number of eyes with adhesions to the fovea in eyes with an MRS was not significantly different from that in eyes without an MRS (57% vs. 59%). Paravascular lesions, for example, retinal cysts, retinoschisis, and lamellar holes, were more common in eyes with an MRS than in eyes without an MRS (71% vs. 36%, 61% vs. 17 %, and 20% vs. 8% [P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.03], respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of paravascular vitreal adhesions was a significant predictor for MRS development (odds ratio, 2.56; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Paravascular vitreal adhesions may be related to the development of the different types of paravascular lesions including retinal cysts and retinoschisis, and play a more important role in the development of an MRS than vitreal adhesions to the fovea.

RIDGE-SHAPED MACULA IN YOUNG MYOPIC PATIENTS AND ITS DIFFERENTIATION FROM TYPICAL DOME-SHAPED MACULA IN ELDERLY MYOPIC PATIENTS.

PURPOSE: To assess and compare clinical features of a ridge-shaped macula (defined as macular elevation only in one meridian across the fovea) in individuals younger than 20 years with those of a dome-shaped macula (DSM) in patients aged 20+ years. METHODS: The retrospective observational case series study included 185 highly myopic eyes of 100 consecutive patients younger than 20 years, who were compared with highly myopic patients with DSMs, aged 20+ years and examined in previous studies. RESULTS: Seventeen (9.2%) eyes of the highly myopic young patients showed macular elevations all of which ran only in the horizontal direction across the vertical optical coherence tomographic section fulfilled the definition of a ridge and did not show any staphylomas or any macular Bruch membrane defects. By contrast, in the older patients with DSMs, the DSMs were significantly higher and had a narrower base than the ridges in the young patients, and showed macular Bruch membrane defects in their vicinity, with the axial length being significantly longer, the myopic maculopathy more severe, and the subfoveal choroid thinner. CONCLUSION: Macular elevations detected in children and adolescents are usually ridge-shaped maculas and do not have the characteristics of DSMs. In comparison with DSMs, ridge-shaped maculas do not show a spatial association with macular Bruch membrane defects or posterior staphylomas and have a wider basis and smoother elevation slope. As a hypothesis, ridge-shaped maculas may be due to a folding of Bruch membrane at the posterior pole, potentially caused by an asymmetrical enlargement of Bruch membrane in the equatorial region.