Abstract:The choroidal vascularity index(CVI)is a quantitative structural parameter derived from optical coherence tomography(OCT)images. It is defined as the ratio of the luminal area to the total choroidal area, which characterizes alterations in the structural proportion between choroidal vascular lumens and stroma, and indirectly indicates changes in choroidal status to a certain extent. With the development of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography(EDI-OCT), CVI has been increasingly applied in ophthalmic research and clinical practice.Measurements of CVI exhibit excellent repeatability and reliability. Combined with the noninvasive nature of EDI-OCT, CVI is an extremely valuable assessment tool for clinical ophthalmic research and routine clinical practice. CVI can quantify proportional changes between the choroidal luminal area and total choroidal area, and better reflects relative variations in choroidal vascular and stromal components compared with choroidal thickness alone. In recent years, CVI has been widely applied to multiple ocular diseases including age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC), diabetic retinopathy(DR), and high myopia. In addition to the diseases themselves, various ocular surgeries and procedures can also affect CVI. Current evidence suggests that changes in CVI may be associated with factors such as postoperative inflammatory response, choroidal hemodynamic alterations, vascular permeability changes, and intraocular pressure fluctuations. However, discrepancies remain among studies regarding the direction and duration of these changes and their relationship with visual outcomes. This review summarizes the effects of ocular surgeries and procedures on CVI and further discusses its clinical interpretation, existing controversies, and future research directions, aiming to provide a reference for perioperative assessment of choroidal structural changes and prognostic evaluation.
