Diagnosis of posterior staphyloma using the radius of steepest curvature among retinal pigment epithelium segmentation line measured by optic coherent tomography

To investigate a novel marker to diagnose posterior staphylomas by measuring the radius of the steepest curvature on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) segmentation line using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Retrospective Cross-sectional Study.

The authors developed a prototype software to measure the radius of curvature on the RPE segmentation line of OCT. Twelve images of 9-mm radial OCT scans were used. The radius of curvature was measured at the steepest area of the RPE segmentation line, and the macular curvature (MC) index was calculated based on its reciprocal. Based on the wide-field fundus findings, the study sample was divided into three groups: definite posterior staphyloma, no posterior staphyloma, and undetermined. The differences of MC index among the groups and the correlation between the MC index, age, and axial length were analyzed.

The present study analyzed 268 eyes, with 54 (20.1%) with definite posterior staphyloma, 202 (75.4%) with no posterior staphyloma, and 12 (4.5%) with undetermined disease status. A maximum MC index of 37.5 was observed in the group with no posterior staphyloma, which was less than the minimum MC index of 42.7 observed in the group with definite posterior staphyloma. The MC index had strong correlations with the axial length and age in eyes with high myopia.

Eyes with posterior staphyloma have a steeper curvature than those with radius 8.44 mm, while eyes without posterior staphyloma do not. MC index 40 (radius 8.44 mm) might act as a reference to distinguish between those with and those without posterior staphyloma.