• Users Online: 59603
  • Home
  • Print this page
  • Email this page

   Table of Contents      
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year : 2016  |  Volume : 64  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 407-408

Comment on: Choroidal thickness changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography


1 Department of Ophthalmology, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Mevki Military Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Date of Web Publication6-Jul-2016

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Salih Uzun
Eye Disease Service, Etimesgut Military Hospital, Ankara 06200
Turkey
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.185634

Rights and Permissions

How to cite this article:
Uzun S, Yolcu U, Ilhan A. Comment on: Choroidal thickness changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Indian J Ophthalmol 2016;64:407-8

How to cite this URL:
Uzun S, Yolcu U, Ilhan A. Comment on: Choroidal thickness changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2016 [cited 2024 Mar 29];64:407-8. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2016/64/5/407/185634

Sir,

We have read the article by Sayin et al. entitled as "Choroidal thickness (CT) changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT)" [1] with great interest. We would like to make some contributions that may broaden the discussion section on the factors influencing CT.

A number of systemic, local, and ophthalmologic anatomical and physiopathological factors and environmental conditions may affect CT. [2] Contradictory results have been reported concerning the effects of the factors such as exercise and blood pressure on CT. [3] Choroid has a unique embryological development and neurovascular anatomy. [2] It has an intense network of sympathetic innervations. Furthermore, it has been shown that nerve growth factor regulates endothelial cell migration and proliferation during choroidal development. Choroidal microvessels are fenestrated although the fenestrae are not as frequent in choroidal capillaries as in the capillaries of other tissues. In addition, there are no desmin intermediate filaments in the choroidal pericytes, and there is a paucity of pericyte ensheathment. [2]

The choroidal circulation is under autonomic neurogenic control. [2] Decreases in choroidal blood flow are mediated by activation of sympathetic, efferent nerves that release noradrenaline, activating alpha 1-adrenoceptors on vascular smooth muscle cells. In turn, increases in choroidal blood flow are mediated by parasympathetic efferent nerves, which act via nitric oxide signaling. Moreover, human studies reported changes in choroidal blood flow not only in the light-stimulated eye but also in the contralateral eye, [4] indicating that the response of choroidal blood flow is under neural control.

Another important point is that hypothalamus is one of the centers responsible for autonomic nervous system (body temperature, systemic blood pressure, etc.), and it has complex interactions with other autonomic centers. [5]

In the light of the aforementioned data, we suppose that the findings of this study may indicate that hypothalamus is one of the main centers responsible for CT, and it may affect CT through autonomic nervous system in exercising individuals by changing body temperature, systemic blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood concentrations of oxygen and CO 2 . The choroid also receives rich innervation from trigeminal sensory fibers, which contain calcitonin gene-related peptide. They are thought to mediate light-evoked control of the choroidal circulation. Furthermore, when dark-adapted eyes were exposed to room light, choroidal blood flow increased. [4] Therefore, lighting and light intensity of the room are important factors during OCT measurements, and it is very likely that they affect the test results. Standard room lighting is particularly important for patients who will participate in studies.

In conclusion, autonomic innervation and autoregulation of choroid are important for keeping the CT. The autoregulatory mechanisms of choroidal blood flow are extremely complex. The interplay of a number of systemic and local control mechanisms may be one of the major factors that affect the CT.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
  References Top

1.
Sayin N, Kara N, Pekel G, Altinkaynak H. Choroidal thickness changes after dynamic exercise as measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Indian J Ophthalmol 2015;63:445-50.  Back to cited text no. 1
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
2.
Kur J, Newman EA, Chan-Ling T. Cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying blood flow regulation in the retina and choroid in health and disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2012;31:377-406.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Alwassia AA, Adhi M, Zhang JY, Regatieri CV, Al-Quthami A, Salem D, et al. Exercise-induced acute changes in systolic blood pressure do not alter choroidal thickness as measured by a portable spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device. Retina 2013;33:160-5.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Fuchsjäger-Mayrl G, Polska E, Malec M, Schmetterer L. Unilateral light-dark transitions affect choroidal blood flow in both eyes. Vision Res 2001;41:2919-24.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Buijs RM. The autonomic nervous system: A balancing act. Handb Clin Neurol 2013;117:1-11.  Back to cited text no. 5
    




 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
    Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
    Access Statistics
    Email Alert *
    Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)  

 
  In this article
References

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed1373    
    Printed31    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded147    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal