Evaluation of choroidal thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in migraine patients during acute migraine attacks: a comparative study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess choroidal thickness in migraine patients during acute migraine attacks and compare them with healthy controls, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Patients and methods In this prospective case-control study, choroidal thicknesses of 46 migraine patients during acute migraine attacks and 46 age-and sex-matched healthy subjects were measured using a high-speed, high-resolution frequency domain-OCT device. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination before the measurements. OCT measurements were taken at the same time of day (0900 hours), in order to minimize the effects of diurnal variation.

Results There was a statistically significant difference in mean choroidal thickness between the migraine patients during acute migraine attacks (356.3 +/- 21.46 mm) and the controls (302.3 +/- 18.34 mu m; P = 0.000). There were significant differences at all measurement points (P < 0.001 for all).

Conclusion The increased choroidal thickness of the migraine patients during acute migraine attacks might be related to the vascular pathology of the disease. Further studies are needed to evaluate the etiopathologic relationship between choroidal thickness and acute migraine attack.