LAUSR

PURPOSE To detect the changes that can be determined with optical coherence tomography(OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA) in young and short-term smokers. METHOD In this cross-sectional, observational, and comparative study, 45 healthy smokers and 45 healthy non-smoker control participants were included. Those with a smoking history between 1 year to 5 years and an average of 10-30 cigarettes per day were included in the study. OCT and OCTA measurements were made at least 60 minutes after smoking and at least 8 hours after caffeine-containing beverages in order to end the effect of nicotine on systemic and retinal blood flow in the smoking group. RESULTS The mean smoking period was 2.2±0.13 years. Mean macular thickness(MMT), retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL), and choroidal thickness(Cht) were significantly lower in the smoker group, while ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer(GC-IPL) thickness was higher. Vessel density(VD) values were similar between groups, while perfusion density(PD) values were significantly higher in the smoker group. There were significant correlations between MMT and outer VD, outer PD, foveal avascular zone(FAZ) perimeter and circularity index. FAZ area and central VD and PD were inversely correlated. Also, FAZ circularity index and subfoveal, nasal, and temporal ChTs were positively correlated. CONCLUSION Despite the short-term smoking, ischemic effects were observed in retinochoroidal and vascular structures.