The relationship between the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis and subfoveal choroidal thickness

PURPOSE This study aims to assess the correlation between the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis and subfoveal choroidal thickness. METHOD 39 patients who met inclusion criteria (proven effect of choroidal thickness; without comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension) were included in the study. The patients were than categorized into three groups; first group included patients with obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) with >50% narrowing or blockage of coronary artery; second group included patients with non-obstructive CAD with <50% narrowing or blockage of coronary artery; and the third group included patients with normal coronary artery condition identified with coronary angiography. Measurements for subfoveal choroidal thickness were taken using Cirrus HD-OCT (Cirrus; Cari Zeiss Meditec Inc., Dublin, CA) device in the EDI (Enhanced depth imaging) mode. FINDINGS The first group included 10 patients (25.6%); second group included 17 patients (43.6%), and third group included 12 patients (30.8%). The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (right eyes) was 237 μm for the first group while it was 290 μm for the second and 281 μm for the third group. (P=0.003) The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (left eyes) was 237 μm for the first group while it was 291 μm for the second and 277 μm for the third group. (P=0.007) The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was found to be rather thin for both eyes in the first group, i.e. patients with diagnosed obstructive coronary artery disease, and this finding was statistically significant. CONCLUSION Subfoveal choroidal thickness is reduced as the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosisincreases. However, there is no research available in the literature which inspects the correlation between the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis and subfoveal choroidal thickness. Measurement of subfoveal choroidal thickness using EDI -OCT may offer a predictive value in the prediction of coronary atherosclerosis.