Influences of Hypomagnesemia on Optic Nerve and Retinal Vascular Structure Determined Using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Angiography.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of low blood magnesium levels on the optic nerve, retina, and retinal vascular structure.

Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2019 and May 2020 with participants aged 20–39 years, who had a visual acuity of ≥20/20, the axial length of 22–24.5 mm, refractive defect spherical equivalent of ≤±3D, and intraocular pressure of ≤21 mm Hg. All participants had a complaint of twitching in their eyes. The participants with normal serum magnesium levels constituted the control group, and patients with hypomagnesemia constituted the patient group. Updated AngioScan software (Navis ver. 1.8.0.) of Nidek’s RS-3000 Advance system was used to analyze the spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A) images.

Results: A total of 100 right eyes of 100 individuals was included in the study. The mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was 108.52 ± 12.46 μm in the control group, and 97.3 ± 9.7 μm in the hypomagnesemia group (P < .001). In the control group, the global superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) vessel densities (VDs) were 41.92 ± 2.29, and 37.54 ± 3.83, respectively. In the patient group, the global SCP and DCP VDs were 37.66 ± 3.14, and 32.95 ± 5.57, respectively. The SCP and DCP VD percentages were significantly lower in the patient group. The mean foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, perimeter and circularity index (CI) were 0.32 ± 0.13 mm², 2.89 ± 0.59 mm, and 0.52 ± 0.09, respectively, for the control group and 0.38 ± 0.11 mm², 2.99 ± 0.64 mm, and 0.38 ± 0.1, respectively, for the patient group. The FAZ area and perimeter were significantly higher (P = .013 and P = .001) and FAZ CI was significantly lower (P < .001) in the patients with hypomagnesemia.

Conclusion: Our study revealed that OCT and OCT-A measurements may be used in the determination of the optic nerve and retinal vascular structure changes in hypomagnesemia.

KEYWORDS:

• Hypomagnesemia
• optical coherence tomography
• angiography
• optic nerve
• retina

Acknowledgments

The authors state no conflict of interest in this manuscript. The study was not funded and authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.