Assessment of choroidal structural characteristics using optical coherence tomography

Background. Optical coherence tomography is an indispensable diagnostic tool in ophthalmology, providing high-resolution, non-invasive in vivo visualization of choroidal structural characteristics. Advances in imaging technologies have enabled the identifi cation of new quantitative and qualitative parameters, either calculated by built-in tomograph software or derived using additional image-processing programs. At the same time, the need for unified assessment criteria and systematic classification of existing parameters remains relevant, as this would enhance their clinical applicability and improve the reliability of research data. This review analyzes the capabilities of optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of the choroid. Purpose: To summarize published data on quantitative and qualitative parameters characterizing the choroid as assessed by optical coherence tomography. Materials and methods. A literature search was conducted in the following databases: CyberLeninka, eLIBRARY. ru, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and MEDLINE, covering the period from January to March 2025. A total of 98 publications were identifi ed, of which 61 were included in the review. Both clinical studies and review articles published in Russian and English over various time periods were analyzed. The search keywords included choroid, optical coherence tomography, subfoveal choroidal thickness, choroidal thickness map, choroidal contour mapping, choroidal vascularity index, choroidal vascularity map, choroidal volume, and ImageJ. Results. OCT-based assessment of the choroid includes measurement of subfoveal choroidal thickness, choroidal thickness at specific locations, and the choroidal vascularity index. In addition, next-generation optical coherence tomography software enables evaluation of choroidal features through choroidal thickness maps, choroidal contour mapping, choroidal vascularity maps, and choroidal volume analysis. This comprehensive approach allows a transition from point-based measurements to detailed three-dimensional modeling and functional assessment of the choroid. Conclusion. Investigation of novel structural characteristics of the choroid may contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of the choroid in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases.

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