Color doppler ultrasound analysis of pathological myopia induced changes in retrobulbar blood flow and its relationship with characteristic changes in myopia

Objective: To analyze changes in retrobulbar blood flow in patients with pathological myopia using color doppler ultrasound (CDU), and to explore the relationship of these changes with the characteristic changes resulting from myopia.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients who met the selection criteria in the ophthalmology department of He Eye Specialist Hospital from May 2020 to May 2022 were included in this study. Patients with normal vision (n=40) were considered Group-A, patients with low and moderate myopia (n=40) were considered Group-B, and patients with pathological myopia (n=40) were considered Group-C. All three groups underwent ultrasonography. The peak systolic blood flow velocity (PSV), end-diastolic blood flow velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI) of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and posterior ciliary artery were recorded and compared, and the characteristics of these parameters and myopia severity were analyzed.

Results: Pathological myopia resulted in significantly lower PSV and EDV of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery and higher RI values than patients with normal vision and low/moderate myopia (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that retrobulbar blood flow changes were significantly correlated with age, eye axis, best corrected visual acuity, and retinal choroidal atrophy.

Conclusion: CDU can objectively evaluate the retrobulbar blood flow changes in pathological myopia, and such blood flow changes are significantly correlated with the characteristic changes of myopia.