Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on posterior ocular segment parameters

The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in the choroidal layer responsible for the volume and vascularization of the orbit using the optical coherence tomography (OCT) method during RME treatment.This prospective study was conducted on a total of 22 adolescent individuals (14 females and 8 males) with a mean age of 13.82 ± 1.76, who presented to the Adiyaman University Faculty of Dentistry Orthodontics Clinic and were diagnosed with maxillary transverse constriction. OCT measurements were taken from the left eye of individuals immediately before treatment (T0), after the completion of the expansion protocol (T1), and at the end of the retention period (T2). Total choroidal area (TKA), luminal area (LA), stromal area (SA), and choroidal vascular index (CVI) values were calculated using ImageJ software. Statistical analyses were performed using Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney U, repeated measures ANOVA, and Friedman tests.Posterior segment parameters of the individuals participating in the study [(CVI (T0: 0.62 ± 0.02, T1: 0.63 ± 0.02, T2: 0.62 ± 0.02), SA (T0: 0.21 ± 0.02, T1: 0.21 ± 0.03, T2: 0.21 ± 0.03) , LA (T0: 0.34 ± 0.04, T1: 0.35 ± 0.04, T2: 0.34 ± 0.04) and TKA (T0: 0.34 ± 0.04, T1: 0.35 ± 0.04, T2: 0.34 ± 0.04)], there is a significant difference between the changes in three different times. No difference was found (p>0.05).It was determined that RME treatment does not lead to a significant short-term change in the posterior segment parameters of the eye as assessed by optical coherence tomography.