# Evaluation of the Choroidal Thickness and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Vasovagal Syncope

## TL;DR

This study found that people with vasovagal syncope have thicker choroidal layers in the eye compared to healthy individuals, but no differences in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

## Contribution

The study is the first to report choroidal thickness differences in vasovagal syncope patients using swept-source optical coherence tomography.

## Key findings

- Choroidal thickness at the fovea, nasal, and temporal regions was significantly greater in vasovagal syncope patients.
- No significant differences were observed in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between groups.
- The findings suggest potential choroidal circulation changes due to neurotransmitter alterations in vasovagal syncope.

## Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate choroidal and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in individuals with vasovagal syncope (VVS). Method: A total of 67 consecutive patients with VVS and 61 healthy control subjects were enrolled this study. The choroidal thickness (CT) at the fovea, the nasal to fovea thickness, and the temporal to fovea thickness were measured, alongside pRNLFT measurements assessed by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Results: The mean foveal CT (408.7 ± 92.5 μm vs. 342.1 ± 60.2 μm, p < 0.01), the mean nasal CT (385.2 ± 88.3 μm vs. 329.2 ± 47.6 μm, p < 0.001), and the mean temporal CT (379.5 ± 51.6 μm vs. 321.48 ± 43.2 μm, p < 0.03) were statistically thicker in patients with VVS compared to the healthy controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the global pRNFLT measurements and all quadrants between the study groups. Conclusions: The CT in all regions was found to be thicker in patients with VVS compared to the healthy controls, while there were no differences in pRNFLT values. These results suggest that choroidal circulation might be affected by local neurotransmitter alterations in patients with VVS.