Cilioretinal Arteries in Highly Myopic Eyes: A Photographic Classification System and Its Association With Myopic Macular Degeneration

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Jiaqi Meng¹  Ling Wei¹  Keke Zhang²  Wenwen He¹  Yi Lu¹  Xiangjia Zhu¹ 

[1] Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University;National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University);Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences;Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration

关键词: cilioretinal artery;    myopic macular degeneration;    high myopia;    fundus photography;    visual acuity;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2020.595544

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Purpose: To develop a photographic classification for cilioretinal arteries and to investigate its association with myopic macular degeneration (MMD). Methods: One thousand six hundred ninety-two highly myopic eyes of 1,692 patients were included. The presence of a cilioretinal artery was determined by fundus photographs, and a photographic classification was proposed. MMD was classified according to the International META-PM Classification. Associations of the cilioretinal artery and its classifications with MMD and visual acuity were analyzed. Results: Of the eyes tested, 245 (14.5%) had a cilioretinal artery. The cilioretinal arteries were classified into four categories (temporal “cake-fork,” 35.92%; temporal “ribbon,” 53.47%; “multiple,” 6.53%; “nasal,” 4.08%) and 3 distributions based on whether its visible branches reached the central foveal area. Eyes with cilioretinal arteries had significantly less MMD of grade ≥3 and better visual acuity than those without ( P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that younger age, male sex, shorter axial length, and the presence of a cilioretinal artery were associated with better visual acuity in highly myopic eyes (all P < 0.05). The “nasal” category presented more MMD with grade ≥3 and worse visual acuity than the other categories ( P < 0.05), whereas the “multiple” category contained no eyes with MMD grade ≥3. The cilioretinal arteries reaching the central foveal area showed less MMD of grade ≥3 and better visual acuity than those not ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: We propose a photographic classification for cilioretinal arteries that has good clinical relevance to visual functions. The cilioretinal artery may potentially afford protection against MMD.

【 授权许可】

CC BY