The Evaluation of Retinal, Choroidal, Scleral and Optic Disc Parameters in Acromegaly.

Background and objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of acromegaly and excessive growth hormone on ocular tissues using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Patients and methods: Subfoveal retinal thickness (SRT), subfoveal choroidal thicknesses (SCT), peripapillary retina nerve fiber layer (pRNFL), macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform complex (GCIPL), and scleral thickness were evaluated in this prospective study. Scleral thickness was evaluated in four quadrants at 2, 4, and 6 mm posterior to the scleral spur.

Results: Right eyes of 50 acromegaly (Group 1) and 50 healthy individuals (Group 2) were enrolled. SRT was significantly higher in Group 1 (P = 0.036). SCT measurements showed no difference (P = 0.31). There was no difference between the groups in terms of pRNFL and GCIPL measurements (P = 0.30, P = 0.26). Thickness measurements from all scleral quadrants and all distances were significantly thicker in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study suggests the sclera may be a target tissue in acromegaly, with increased scleral thickness. No differences were found in choroidal, optic disc, or GCIPL parameters compared to controls.