Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging
Abstract This study aimed to compare the outcomes of Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) with the clinical assessments conducted by an experienced ophthalmologist, as well as to analyze the alterations in the conjunctiva of individuals utilizing spherical scleral contact lenses. OCT-A i...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89159-x |
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| author | Fateme Alipour Parisa Abdi Hassan Asadigandomani Mehdi Khodaparast Zahra Montazeriani Marzieh Sajedi |
| author_facet | Fateme Alipour Parisa Abdi Hassan Asadigandomani Mehdi Khodaparast Zahra Montazeriani Marzieh Sajedi |
| author_sort | Fateme Alipour |
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| description | Abstract This study aimed to compare the outcomes of Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) with the clinical assessments conducted by an experienced ophthalmologist, as well as to analyze the alterations in the conjunctiva of individuals utilizing spherical scleral contact lenses. OCT-A imaging was conducted on 13 patients (mean age: 34.1 years, 10 males) in a prospective study at two time points: at least 8 h post-lens removal and 1-hour post-lens application. The scleral region in the quadrants (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal) was designated as the region of interest (ROI), located 3 mm from the limbus. This ROI was further divided into two bands: Band 1 (1.5 mm width under the lens) and Band 2 (1.5 mm width outside the lens). The vascular density ratios in the inferior quadrant were significantly reduced after the lens fitting: ROI (0.362 ± 0.074 post-lens vs. 0.452 ± 0.099 pre-lens, adjusted P-value = 0.027) and Band 1 (0.353 ± 0.075 post-lens vs. 0.462 ± 0.095 pre-lens, adjusted P-value = 0.008). In the superior (P-value = 0.026), inferior (P-value < 0.001), and temporal (P-value < 0.001) quadrants, the degree of conjunctival impingement, as scored by an experienced ophthalmologist using slit photographs, was significantly correlated with OCT-A findings. In conclusion, OCT-A identifies microvascular changes undetectable by slit-lamp examination, providing quantitative insights into vascular alterations from scleral lens use and complementing clinical evaluations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-87fa4895506e4217bf17dff0479bf4ff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-87fa4895506e4217bf17dff0479bf4ff2025-02-09T12:35:49ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-89159-xInvestigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imagingFateme Alipour0Parisa Abdi1Hassan Asadigandomani2Mehdi Khodaparast3Zahra Montazeriani4Marzieh Sajedi5Translational Ophthalmology Research Center (TORC), Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesTranslational Ophthalmology Research Center (TORC), Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesTranslational Ophthalmology Research Center (TORC), Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesTranslational Ophthalmology Research Center (TORC), Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Medical Technologies and Equipment Institute (AMTEI), Tehran University of Medical SciencesTranslational Ophthalmology Research Center (TORC), Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract This study aimed to compare the outcomes of Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography (OCT-A) with the clinical assessments conducted by an experienced ophthalmologist, as well as to analyze the alterations in the conjunctiva of individuals utilizing spherical scleral contact lenses. OCT-A imaging was conducted on 13 patients (mean age: 34.1 years, 10 males) in a prospective study at two time points: at least 8 h post-lens removal and 1-hour post-lens application. The scleral region in the quadrants (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal) was designated as the region of interest (ROI), located 3 mm from the limbus. This ROI was further divided into two bands: Band 1 (1.5 mm width under the lens) and Band 2 (1.5 mm width outside the lens). The vascular density ratios in the inferior quadrant were significantly reduced after the lens fitting: ROI (0.362 ± 0.074 post-lens vs. 0.452 ± 0.099 pre-lens, adjusted P-value = 0.027) and Band 1 (0.353 ± 0.075 post-lens vs. 0.462 ± 0.095 pre-lens, adjusted P-value = 0.008). In the superior (P-value = 0.026), inferior (P-value < 0.001), and temporal (P-value < 0.001) quadrants, the degree of conjunctival impingement, as scored by an experienced ophthalmologist using slit photographs, was significantly correlated with OCT-A findings. In conclusion, OCT-A identifies microvascular changes undetectable by slit-lamp examination, providing quantitative insights into vascular alterations from scleral lens use and complementing clinical evaluations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89159-xSpherical scleral contact lensOptical coherence tomography angiographyConjunctiva |
| spellingShingle | Fateme Alipour Parisa Abdi Hassan Asadigandomani Mehdi Khodaparast Zahra Montazeriani Marzieh Sajedi Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging Scientific Reports Spherical scleral contact lens Optical coherence tomography angiography Conjunctiva |
| title | Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging |
| title_full | Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging |
| title_short | Investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini-scleral contact lenses utilizing OCT-A imaging |
| title_sort | investigating the vascular structure of the conjunctiva in patients using spherical mini scleral contact lenses utilizing oct a imaging |
| topic | Spherical scleral contact lens Optical coherence tomography angiography Conjunctiva |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-89159-x |
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