Obese Foveal Avascular Zone Assessed by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography of the Retina: Is There a Relation to Comorbities?

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in obese by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and to evaluate the findings of structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) and their relations with comorbidities. Methods: It was included 35 obese (study group) and 30 normal individuals (control group). Patients with retinal diseases and retinal treatments were excluded. The images were obtained using the Topcon ® . Results: The mean areas of FAZ in superficial plexus (FAZ-SP) and deep plexus (FAZ-DP) were significantly greater in the study group: FAZ-SP was 405.0 ± 136.4 µm 2 in the obese group and 307.3 ± 78.6 µm 2 in the control group and in the left eye (LE) 477.1 ± 124.4 µm 2 in the obese group and 384.0 ± 88.7 µm 2 in the control group. This difference was statistically significant (RE: p = 0.0014 and LE: p = 0.0012). The mean area of the FAZ-DP was 491.0 ± 124.4 µm 2 (Right eye—RE) in the obese group and 384.4 ± 88.7 µm 2 in the control group and in the left eye (LE) was 497.9 ± 124.1 µm 2 in the obese group and 484.9 ± 92.7 µm 2 in the control group. There were no correlations regarding FAZ-SP and FAZ-DP in both eyes with fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol and fractions and triglycerides. A significant association between enlargement of FAZ-DP and type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 0.0160) was observed. Conclusion: The FAZ areas in superficial and deep plexus achieved significantly greater values in the study group. There was a significant association between a larger deep FAZ area and type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is necessary an evaluation with a larger sample size to corroborate the findings.