A new study looked at the structure-function relationship in high myopia using spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and visual fields and found ganglion cell layer thickness changes may result in visual field defects in highly myopic eyes.

The study included 58 highly myopic patients who had no posterior abnormalities (mean spherical equivalent refraction ≤-6.00D and axial length ≥ 26.0mm). The study calculated the average macular layer thicknesses in each quadrant in a 6mmx6mm area centered on the fovea, and visual fields were assessed from 17 central locations (10°), approximately the equivalent of the area tested by SD-OCT in the macular scan. Researchers then made linear correlations between different macular layer thicknesses and peripapillary retinal nerve layer thickness with their matched visual field results.

The study found mean spherical equivalent refraction of -8.20 ± 1.40D and axial lengths of 26.7 ± 0.7mm. Additionally, investigators reported significant positive correlations between layer thickness and visual field sensitivities in the ganglion cell layer in all quadrants.

“The correlation between retinal layer thicknesses and visual field sensitivity could be explained by myopia‐related losses due to lateral retinal stretching, with further research required to investigate this,” researchers wrote in their paper.

The structure–function relationship in high myopia using SD-OCT for structural evaluation and visual field for functional evaluation has not been previously assessed, investigators stated.

Moghadas SN, Shoeibi N, Ehsaei A, et al. Structure versus function in high myopia using optical coherence tomography and automated perimetry. Clin Exp Optom. 2019;102(3):335-40.