Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to examine the choroidal thickness of patients with grade 4 hemorrhoids to see if vascular abnormalities in hemorrhoid patients may affect other `parts of the body. METHODS: 51 patients diagnosed with grade 4 hemorrhoids in the last two years and 49 healthy volunteers were included. Choroidal evaluation was done by measurements from various points of the choroid using a spectral domain Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc.) in enhanced-depth imaging mode. Choroidal thicknesses were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Nasal choroidal thickness, temporal choroidal thickness and mean choroidal thickness measurements were significantly higher in the hemoroid group (p<0.05), while subfoveal choroidal thickness did not differ significantly between the groups. Macular thickness was also significantly higher in the hemoroid group compared to the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was an increase in choroidal thickness in patients with grade 4 hemorrhoids.