Choroidal Control Technology: New Horizons in Maculopathy and Presbyopia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate changes in choroidal thickness in presbyopes, when reading with regular glasses versus choroidal control glasses, in patients with or without Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).

Methods: This was a pilot study on short-term axial length (AL) in 33 eyes of 24 presbyopic patients aged 60 to 80 years, assigned to two age-matched groups, with or without AMD. About them, changes in choroidal thickness were evaluated with ocular biometry through indirect measurements of axial length at baseline, after 20' of reading with conventional lenses, and after another 20' of reading with peripheral hyperopic defocus glasses. The differences in AL between the three different times were studied.

Results: In presbyopes without AMD there was a significant axial length shortening of 13.44 microns in the first conventional reading period, which was reversed by 90% with hyperopic defocus lenses, recovering 12.11 microns by axial lengthening (choroidal thinning, p = 0.03). In patients with AMD, axial shortening was significantly greater than controls, 23.86 microns with conventional lenses (p<0.001) and they, also increased their axial length with defocus, although this response was smaller.

Conclusion: Reading with positive lenses produces myopic defocus and choroidal thickening in presbyopes with and without AMD but was significantly greater in the latter. Glasses with Choroidal Control Technology reduced thickening during reading.

Note:

Funding Information: None.

Conflict of Interests: Abel Szeps and Rafael Iribarren are consultants of Novar. Other authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical Approval: The protocol of the present study was evaluated by the ethics committee of the Argentinean Council of Ophthalmology and by the research consultancy ROMAT Creator Center. The participating investigators adhered to the principles set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Keywords: Defocus Choroidal, Control Technology, Axial Length, Presbyopia, AMD.