Prevalence of choroidal naevi in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of the BiDirect study.

Cross-sectionalBMC ophthalmology· Jul 2026

Prevalence of choroidal naevi in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of the BiDirect study.

Mael Lever, Alexandra Schweig, Klaus Berger … Andreas Stang

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RetinaCross-sectionalQ2IF 2.2

Choroidal naevi found in about 3.1% of adults screened in Germany

Prevalence of choroidal naevi in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of the BiDirect study.

Mael Lever … Andreas Stang

BMC ophthalmology · Jul 2026 · Q2 in Ophthalmology

Background

Choroidal naevi (choroidal naevi) are small, and mostly asymptomatic choroidal lesions.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of choroidal naevi based on fundus images from participants of the prospective German BiDirect study.

Methods

With at least one 45°-wide macula-centred image of both eyes were included.

n = 1170 participants

Results

3.1%

share of screened adults found to have a harmless eye pigment spot

n = 1170 participants

More results

When fundus image was acquired, participants were aged 37-68 years (mean ± standard deviation: 54 ± 7.8) and 49% were females.

Mean visual acuity was 0.20 ± 0.2 LogMAR on both eyes.

At least one choroidal naevi was detected in 36 participants.

After age-standardization, ESP2013-prevalence was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2-3.0).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

In regions with demographics like those in the German BiDirect study, posteriorly localised choroidal naevi can be expected in approximately 3.1% of the population.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

However, the prevalence of choroidal naevi across the entire fundus remains difficult to determine.

Prevalence of choroidal naevi in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of the BiDirect study.

Prevalence of choroidal naevi in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis of the BiDirect study.

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