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Ocular blood vessel arrangement in choroidal coloboma

Eye volume 37, pages 2781–2787 (2023)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To describe the ocular blood vessel arrangement in choroidal coloboma eyes.

Methods

In this retrospective, observational cross-sectional study, fundus images from 69 coloboma eyes of 45 patients were classified as per Ida Mann’s classification. The arrangement and distribution of retinal, choroidal, and episcleral vessels, as well as vortex veins, were observed in non-colobomatous, colobomatous, and extra-colobomatous regions.

Results

Seventy-eight colobomas were identified. There were 12 type 1, 13 type 2, 10 type 3, 13 type 4, 11 type 5, 4 type 6 and 15 type 7 colobomas respectively. In most cases of type 1 and 2 colobomas, origin of retinal blood vessels could not be determined. In colobomas type 3–7, retinal blood vessels originated either from the optic disc centre or, rarely, from the optic disc or coloboma margin. Eyes with large and deep type 1, 2, 3 and 7 colobomas showed prominent choroidal vessels in the non-colobomatous region and around the coloboma. Small choroidal colobomas lacked prominent choroidal vessels. Similarly, prominent extraocular episcleral vessels within the coloboma bed were observed in eyes with colobomas of types 1, 2, 3 and 7. Vortex veins were visible in 70% of coloboma eyes. They were more commonly seen with small focal colobomas and less frequently with large deep colobomas.

Conclusion

Coloboma eyes have variations in the arrangement and distribution of ocular blood vessels. The position, size, and antero-posterior extent of the choroidal coloboma are the primary determinants of how these blood vessels are arranged. Future research would benefit from additional imaging with indocyanine green angiography.

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Fig. 1: Categorisation of coloboma as per Ida Mann’s classification.
Fig. 2: Arrangement of ocular blood vessels in different types of coloboma.
Fig. 3: Distribution of ocular blood vessels in an eye with co-existing type 4 and type 7 choroidal colobomas.
Fig. 4: Distribution of ocular blood vessels in an eye with type 1 choroidal coloboma.
Fig. 5: Type 3 coloboma showing the episcleral vessels (black arrow) and vortex vein ampulla (red arrow) in the bed of the choroidal coloboma.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank our technician, Mr Abhishek Bhatt for his contribution in capturing the fundus images using Optos®, Daytona device.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Retina and Vitreous, Narayana Nethralaya, #121/C, 1st R block, Chord Road, Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore, 560010, India

    Ramesh Venkatesh, Yash Parmar, Chitturi Sai Prashanti, Rubble Mangla & Naresh Kumar Yadav

  2. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Medical Retina and Vitreoretinal Surgery, 203 Lothrop Street, Suite 800, Pittsburg, PA, 15213, USA

    Jay Chhablani

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  1. Ramesh Venkatesh
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  6. Jay Chhablani
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Contributions

RV, JC: conceptualising the study, data acquisition, analysing the data, statistics and results, interpreting the findings, writing & reviewing the manuscript YJP, RB, SP: Data acquisition and analysing the data NKY: critically reviewing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ramesh Venkatesh.

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Approval was obtained from Institutional Review Board and Ethics committee (C-2022-04-003).

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Venkatesh, R., Parmar, Y., Chitturi, S.P. et al. Ocular blood vessel arrangement in choroidal coloboma. Eye 37, 2781–2787 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-023-02420-3

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