Effects of physical exercise on macular vessel density and choroidal thickness in children

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 21;11(1):2015. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81770-y.

Abstract

We used swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to investigate the effects of moderate physical exercise on retinal and choroidal vessel densities (VDs) and thicknesses in children. One eye in each of 40 myopic children (mean age, 11.70 years) and 18 emmetropic children (mean age, 11.06 years) were included. SS-OCT 6 × 6-mm radial scans and SS-OCTA 3 × 3-mm images were centered on the macula. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded before and immediately after a 20-min stationary cycling exercise and after a 30-min rest. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness (CT), and VD at the superficial and deep retinal layers, choriocapillaris, and deeper choroidal vessels were determined. SFCT and CT were significantly lower at all locations immediately after exercise (p < 0.001) and did not fully recover after rest (p < 0.05). VD was lower in the deep retinal layer after exercise (p = 0.02) and higher in the superficial layer after rest (p = 0.03) in myopic eyes while it was higher in the superficial (p < 0.01) and deep layer (p < 0.01) after rest in emmetropic eyes. No significant exercise-related changes in the superficial retinal VD, choroidal VD, or IOP were observed. ΔCT% and ΔSFCT% were significantly correlated with increases in HR in myopic group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). Exercise increased retinal VD after rest in emmetropic eyes, and caused significant CT thinning that lasted for at least 30 min in both emmetropic and myopic eyes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Choroid / blood supply
  • Choroid / diagnostic imaging*
  • Choroid / pathology
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Emmetropia / physiology
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Macula Lutea / diagnostic imaging
  • Macula Lutea / pathology
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / blood supply
  • Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Myopia / diagnosis
  • Myopia / diagnostic imaging
  • Myopia / therapy*
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / pathology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells
  • Retinal Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Retinal Vessels / pathology
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence