Evaluation of changes in choroidal thickness and the choroidal vascularity index after hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease by using swept-source optical coherence tomography

To evaluate the effect of hemodialysis on choroidal thickness and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) by using swept-source optical coherence tomography.Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were recruited prospectively. Detailed ophthalmologic examinations and swept-source optical coherence tomography were performed immediately before and after hemodialysis. Choroidal thickness maps were generated automatically by using built-in software. The CVI was calculated using binarized choroidal optical coherence tomography images. Systemic parameters such as body weight and blood pressure were also measured. The changes in systemic and ocular parameters during hemodialysis were evaluated. Subjects were divided into 2 groups (diabetes mellitus [DM] vs non-diabetes mellitus) for subgroup analysis.Total choroidal thickness showed a significant overall decrease after hemodialysis (-10.9 ± 14.0, P