Evaluation of choroidal melanin-containing tissue in healthy Japanese subjects by polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 12; no. 1; pp. 4048 - 9
• Main Authors: Miura, Masahiro, Makita, Shuichi, Yasuno, Yoshiaki, Iwasaki, Takuya, Azuma, Shinnosuke, Mino, Toshihiro, Yamaguchi, Tatsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 08.03.2022; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 692/698/1688/512/2613/1786; 692/700/1421; Age; Choroid - diagnostic imaging; Healthy Volunteers; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Japan; Melanin; Melanins; multidisciplinary; Polarization; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensitivity analysis; Tomography; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Japan
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07818-9

In this study, the choroidal melanin content in healthy eyes was evaluated with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT). We evaluated 105 healthy eyes of 105 Japanese subjects. The mean thickness of melanin-containing tissue in the choroid (thickness of MeCh) and the choroidal melanin occupancy rate within a 5-mm circular region from the foveal center were calculated using the degree of polarization uniformity obtained by PS-OCT and compared with the choroidal thickness, patient age, and axial length. To evaluate regional variations, the 5-mm circular region was divided into a center area and an outer ring area, and the outer ring area was further divided into four areas (nasal, temporal, superior, and inferior). The mean thickness of MeCh showed a significant positive correlation with the choroidal thickness. The mean choroidal melanin occupancy rate showed a significant positive correlation with age. The mean choroidal melanin occupancy rate of the center area was significantly larger than that of the outer ring area. The mean thickness of MeCh and choroidal melanin occupancy rate of the nasal area were significantly lower than those of other areas. The distribution of melanin-containing tissue in the choroid varies significantly with age and location.