Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Choroidal Thickness: A Cross-Sectional Study

Authors : Burak Ören, Özhan Uygun

Pages : 515-521

Doi:10.35440/hutfd.1696683

View : 18 | Download : 45

Publication Date : 2025-09-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Background: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) on the choroidal thickness (CT) and the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT). Materials and Methods: This study involved 60 patients with VDD (Group 1) and 50 healthy controls (Group 2). Group 1 was further divided into three subgroups—severe deficiency (Group 1a), defici-ency (Group 1b), and insufficiency (Group 1c)—based on serum vitamin D levels. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was utilized to measure the subjects’ subfoveal CT, nasal CT, temporal CT, and peripapillary RNFLT. Results: The subfoveal, temporal, and nasal CTs were observed to be significantly thinner in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p < 0.001). However, peripapillary RNFLTs did not differ significantly between Groups 1 and 2 in all quadrants (all p > 0.05). Subfoveal, temporal, and nasal CTs were significantly thinner in Group 1a than in Groups 1b and 1c (all p < 0.001). However, peripapillary RNFLTs were comparable across subgroups in all quadrants (all p > 0.05). Vitamin D levels correlated positively with subfoveal, temporal, and nasal CTs among patients with VDD. Conclusions: Patients with VDD exhibited decreased CTs, and those with severe deficiency showed an even more dramatic decrease. Therefore, VDD may cause choroidal pathologies.
Keywords : D Vitamini Eksikliği, Koroid Kalınlığı, Retina Sinir Lifi Tabakası, Optik Koherens Tomografi

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