Analysis of asymmetry in macular structure and function associated with ocular dominance.

Purpose: Research on the correlation between ocular dominance and macular structure and function is inconsistent. This clinical observational study explored the effect of ocular dominance on retinal structure and the correlation between binocular structural asymmetry and ocular dominance.

Methods: Forty healthy young adults (aged 20-29 years) were enrolled. Ocular dominance, refractive error, pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP), multifocal electroretinography (mfERG), swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA)tests were performed.

Results: Among the 40 subjects, 24 (60%) were right-eye dominant. The dominant eye had a larger amplitude density of Ring 1 in the mfERG (198.52 ± 51.43 vs. 175.92 ± 50.17, p = 0.003), larger density of the superficial capillary plexus of the macula within the 4-12 mm diameter range (dominant eyes vs. nondominant eyes: 4-6 mm: 80.89 (78.24,83.58) vs. 78.93 (74.85,81.77), p < 0.001; 7-9 mm: 73.01 (69.22,75.90) vs. 71.75 (69.43,74.37), p = 0.009; 10-12 mm: 55.79 ± 5.40 vs. 54.46 ± 7.03, p = 0.033), and a thicker choroidal layer (dominant eyes vs. nondominant eyes: 7-9 mm: 289.70 ± 58.85 vs. 279.86 ± 59.16, p = 0.045; 10-12 m: 270.05 ± 44.87 vs. 259.64 ± 43.50, p = 0.014). The right eye had a higher choroidal vascular density (right eyes vs. left eyes: 0-1 mm: 95.45 (84.56,98.67) vs. 91.04 (79.79,97.04), p = 0.018) and lower superficial retinal vascular density (right eyes vs. left eyes: 10-12 mm: 54.29 ± 5.98 vs. 55.82 ± 6.34, p = 0.027) and choroidal vascular density (right eyes vs. left eyes: 7-9 mm: 90.98 ± 2.89 vs. 92.18 ± 2.61, p = 0.041).

Conclusion: Ocular dominance influenced macular foveal function, parafoveal vessel density and choroidal thickness. The functional and morphological differences in ocular dominance and laterality are inconsistent.