Are optic nerve head and choroidal circulation affected by eye movements?

Aim: Although it has been reported that the optic nerve can be mechanically affected by the eye's horizontal movements, studies examining horizontal movements with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) have only recently begun to emerge. This study aimed to investigate whether there are changes in the OCTA data of healthy individuals in the primary gaze, abduction, and adduction.

Method: Thirty volunteers (15-73 years old) were included in this prospectively designed study. Radial peripapillary capillary density parameters (RPCD) taken with OCTA in cases of primary gaze, abduction, and adduction were examined. With the OCTA device Angio Disc QuickVue that was used in the study, 3 main vessel structures could be examined.

Result: In the patients' primary, abduction, and adduction positions, a difference was observed only in the superior hemifield area of the left eye ( = 0.032). The superior hemifield all vessels vessel densities (AV VD) were 60.1 ± 2.7 in the central gaze, 59.9 ± 2.6 in the adduction, and 60.8 ± 2.6 in the abduction positions, with a relative decrease observed in adduction. This was also related to age. No difference was detected in terms of the other RPCD parameters.

Conclusion: In healthy individuals, short-term horizontal eye movements may not result in significant changes except for superior hemifield in OCTA data.