Effect of bandage scleroplasty on dopamine levels and choroidal thickness in patients with progressive myopia of various genesis

The purpose of the work was to study the effect of bandage scleroplasty (BSP) on the level of dopamine (DA) in the tear fluid and choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with high progressive myopia.

Material and methods. Fifty patients (50 eyes) aged 13.1 ± 1.7 years were examined and divided into 3 groups: Group 1 — children with congenital myopia (spherical equivalent (SE) = 14.5 ± 3.4 D), Group 2 — with acquired myopia (SE = 8.3 ± 1.5 D); Group 3 (control) — with emmetropia and low hyperopia (SE = +0.25 ± 0.7 D). In addition to the routine examination, the children’s eye axial length (AL), choroidal thickness (CT) using the SLO/OCT Mirante multimodal platform (Nidek, Japan), and retinal light sensitivity (RLS) in the macular area using the MP-3 microperimeter (Nidek, Japan) were determined. Biochemical studies of tear fluid were also performed to determine the DA concentration before and 1 month after BSP.

Results. In congenital myopia, DA after BSP decreases (by an average of 77 pg/mg protein), while in acquired myopia, it tends to increase (by an average of 20 pg/mg protein) with an increase in CT (by 13.0–20.3 %) in both groups. In patients with congenital myopia and initially low DA values, no normalization of hormone concentrations was observed after BSP, despite improved choroidal blood filling. However, with initially elevated DA levels, its concentration in tears decreased after BSP, accompanied by an increase in CT.

Conclusion. BSP promotes an increase in CT in both acquired and congenital myopia. In congenital myopia, DA decreases after BSP, while in acquired myopia, it increases, which may be due to the preservation of retinal dopaminergic cells capable of synthesizing DA.

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