Researchers recently used OCT angiography (OCT-A) to document several physiological changes in the retinal vascular plexus and choriocapillaris (CC) structures of healthy patients who were fasting.

This prospective study evaluated OCT-A scans of 98 eyes of 49 subjects taken during fasting and non-fasting periods. The team looked at all OCT-A parameters and found that the mean superficial, deep and CC flow areas were significantly lower in patients who were fasting. They noted that the mean superficial and deep vascular densities were statistically significantly lower in the fasting period specifically at the superficial flow area level. Fasting didn’t affect deep vascular density, deep foveal avascular zone area and central macular thickness; however, the superficial foveal avascular zone area was significantly lower in the non-fasting period. The researchers added that fasting led to a statistically significant and thicker subfoveal choroidal thickness.