Posters

The effect of Ramadan fasting on choroidal and retinal thickness measurements: a pilot study

Poster Details

First Author: A. Kurt TURKEY

Co Author(s):    R. Kilic                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the effects of hunger and thirst on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness (CT) parameters during Ramadan fasting.

Setting:

Ahi Evran University Medical School, Ophthalmology Department, Kırşehir, Turkey

Methods:

We included 42 eyes of 21 fasting healthy volunteers in the study. RNFL and CT measurements were obtained using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Subfoveal and perifoveal CT were measured using enhanced depth imaging optic coherence tomography. Perifoveal CT was measured at a distance of 500 μm, 1000 μm, and 1500 μm nasally and temporally from the foveal center in each eye.

Results:

CT was statistically thinner in the fasting state than in the nonfasting state at the subfoveal location (CSF) ( p<0,001), at 500 μm temporal to the fovea (CT500) (p<0,001), at 1000 μm temporal to the fovea (CT1000) (p<0,001), at 1500 μm temporal to the fovea (CT1500) (p<0,001), at 500 μm nasal to the fovea (CN500) (p=0,001), at 1000 μm nasal to the fovea (CNl000) (p=0,003), and at 1500 μm nasal to the fovea (CN1500) (p=0,002). There was no statistically significant difference between fasting and nonfasting RNFL thickness.

Conclusions:

Subfoveal and perifoveal CT values were significantly thinner in fasting than in nonfasting subjects. It is possible that decreased choroidal vascular bed volume during fasting caused the reduction in choroidal thickness.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE