Macula Characteristics in Young Saudi Male Patients with Myopia: A Comparative Hospital-Based Study

Background: Myopia is associated with changes in the posterior segment of the eye, including the macula, which may contribute to potential blindness. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate the macula integrity in young myopic patients through optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Qassim University optometry clinics from January to June 2024, involving 30 healthy young males with myopia and 30 with emmetropia. Clinical examination and OCT imaging were used to gather data on macular volume and thickness. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.

Results: The study included 60 myopic eyes and 60 emmetropic eyes. The participants' mean age was 22.10 ± 1.65 years (p = 0.135). A significant difference was found between myopic and emmetropic eyes in fovea, parafovea, perifovea, and total macula thickness and volume (P < 0.05). Additionally, the study showed a significant positive correlation between the magnitude of myopia and fovea thickness (r = 0.297, p = 0.011) and negative correlations with perifovea thickness (r = -0.418, p < 0.001), total macula thickness (r = -0.353, p = 0.003), and total macula volume (r = -0.352, p = 0.003). However, parafoveal thickness had no significant correlation with the severity of myopia (r= -0.107; p=0.207). Fovea thickness was higher in high myopia (255.40 ± 23.51 µm) compared to low (238.69 ± 15.98 µm) and moderate (248.15 ± 8.70 µm) myopia. Perifovea thickness, macula thickness, and macula volume were significantly lower in high myopia (p ˃ 0.05).

Conclusion: Myopia influences macular parameters compared to emmetropia. It increases fovea thickness and decreases total macula thickness and volume as well as perifovea thickness. High myopia has more alterations in macula parameters.