The Effect of Nicotine on Macular Microcirculation in Healthy Subjects.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acute effects of nicotine on macular microvasculature by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Non-smokers who were administered 4 mg nicotine gum (study group) or placebo gum (control group) were enrolled, 18 individuals in each group. All participants underwent OCTA at baseline and 1 hour after gum chewing. Macular flow area, macular vessel density, foveal avascular zone area, central foveal thickness, and subfoveal choroidal thickness were analyzed. RESULTS: Macular flow area, vessel density, and subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased in the nicotine group ( P < .05). No statistically significant difference observed in central foveal thickness, when compared with baseline measurement ( P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Nicotine causes a significant decrease in macular microcirculation. Deterioration of macular microcirculation can be quantitatively detected by OCTA noninvasively. [ Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:691–700.]