Retinal Microvasculature Alterations in Anisometropic Amblyopia Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (Code-T0137)

Introduction: Amblyopia is a leading cause of monocular vision loss in children, characterized by reduced best-corrected visual acuity due to abnormal visual stimuli during critical developmental periods. Anisometropic amblyopia arises from unequal refractive errors between eyes, impacting retinal microcirculation.

Aim and Objectives:

Aim

To compare the Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography findings of retinal microvasculature in anisometropic amblyopic eyes with fellow eyes.

Objective

Primary Objective :

To quantify the changes in vascular density in anisometropic amblyopic eye and fellow eye.

Secondary Objective :

1. To compare and find out the possible association of retinal microvasculature and amblyopia
2. To correlate severity and type of amblyopia with vascular density values.

Methods: A comparative observational study was conducted on 40 children (5–15 years) diagnosed with unilateral anisometropic amblyopia. OCTA was employed to measure vessel density in superficial and deep capillary plexuses, central macular thickness, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) parameters. Statistical analysis was performed to determine differences and correlations.

Results: Amblyopic eyes exhibited significantly lower vessel density in parafoveal, nasal, and temporal regions compared to fellow eyes (p<0.05), with no significant difference in central macular thickness. FAZ acircularity index was elevated in amblyopic eyes, indicating vascular compromise. Vessel density negatively correlated with amblyopia severity. Myopic anisometropia was the predominant subtype, but vessel density differences were not significant across refractive error types.

Conclusion: This study highlights microvascular alterations in amblyopic eyes, emphasizing the utility of OCTA in evaluating retinal vascular health. These findings provide insights into the pathophysiology of anisometropic amblyopia and underscore the importance of early detection and intervention.

Keywords: Amblyopia, Anisometropia, OCT Angiography, Retinal Microcirculation, Vessel Density, Foveal Avascular Zone