Evulation of optic disc and retinal microvasculature by optical coherence tomography angiography in children with asthma

Background: To investigate the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in children with asthma and compare them with age and sex matched healthy ones. Methods: Sixty eyes of 30 asthmatic children (asthma group), 60 eyes of 30 control age- and sex- matched healthy control subjects (control group) were included to this cross-sectional prospective study. Demographic features and ophthalmological examination including OCTA measurements were evaluated. The OCTA was performed with 6x6 mm sections for macula and 4.5x4.5 mm sections for optic disc in all eyes. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, vessel density in different sections of retina, and optic nerve head were analyzed. Results: RNFL thickness for temporal quadrants and flow area for outer retina levels were statistically significant lower in asthma group compared to control group. However, inside disc densities were significantly higher in asthma group when compared to controls (72.5810.99µm vs 77.739.73µm, p=0.015, 0.60±0.31mm2 vs 0.72±0.31mm2 , p=0.047, and 55.16±3.71% vs 52.08±3.79%, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Asthmatic children seem to have lower values of temporal quadrant RNFL, and flow area for outer retina, but higher levels of inside disc density. These results may have significant implications for understanding of how asthma could affect retinal microvasculature. Keywords: Asthma; optical coherence tomography angiography, microvasculature, optic disc, retina