Choroidal Thickness and Postural Stability in Young Adults: Exploring Ocular Contributions to Balance and Fall Prevention

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between choroidal thickness and postural stability in healthy young adults, focusing on the influence of refractive error and choroidal thickness distribution across quadrants. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 24 young adults (19 men, 5 women; mean age, 22 ± 2.06 years). Refractive error was measured using an autorefractor, and choroidal thickness was assessed with optical coherence tomography. Postural stability was evaluated using a force platform under quiet stance and one-legged stance conditions. Choroidal thickness was analyzed across quadrants and rings, and its correlation with postural sway parameters was determined using univariate analyses. Results: The mean choroidal thickness was 280 ± 77.51 μm, with the nasal quadrant being the thinnest and the inferior quadrant the thickest. Myopic participants had thinner choroids (mean, 273 ± 77.25 μm) compared to non-myopes (mean, 288 ± 77.08 μm). A positive correlation (r = 0.279, P < 0.001) was found between choroidal thickness and refractive error. In quiet stance, increased choroidal thickness was negatively correlated with anterior-posterior sway but positively correlated with medial-lateral sway. During one-legged stance, choroidal thickness was negatively correlated with most postural sway measures, except for maximum medial-lateral sway. Conclusion: Choroidal thickness is associated with refractive error and postural stability. Regional differences in choroidal thickness may play a role in balance control, highlighting the potential relevance of ocular structural health to mechanisms underlying balance control and fall risk. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms linking choroidal dynamics and postural control.