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  • Changes, with increasing age of children, in optic nerve head parameters and retinal thickness

Changes, with increasing age of children, in optic nerve head parameters and retinal thickness
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

30 June 2025 | Fiona Rowe (Prof) | EYE - Paediatrics, EYE - Strabismus
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In this study, the authors aimed to compare stereometric parameters of the optic disc and inner retinal layer thickness (peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) and ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL)) at two time points in the same children and to establish a correlation between the change of these parameters with the optic nerve head (ONH) area using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This study included 175 eyes of 175 children; 89 males, 86 females. First examination was at a mean of 6.7 ±1.6 years and the second at 13.2 ±0.7 years. Average time between examinations was 6.5 ±0.7 years. Average ONH area was 2.0 ±0.36mm2. There was a significant decrease on M but no significant change for J0 or J45. No correlation was found between refractive M vector and difference of OCT measurements between the two examinations. There was a significant difference with decrease of the neuro retinal rim (NRR) area between the two examinations and a significant increase in the cup volume. No significant difference was found for cup disc ratio. A positive correlation was found for ONH area and difference of cup volume, and a negative correlation with difference of the NRR area. A significant decrease was noted for average pRNFL and significant change of GCIPL thickness. This study demonstrates evolution of ONH parameters and inner retinal thickness during childhood, using OCT. Cup volume enlarges and NRR area decreases, with increasing age. No significant changes occur for cup disc ratio but the authors suggest the time lapse between examinations in this study was not lengthy enough to reveal a change. Further longitudinal studies are needed in this regard. The findings also demonstrate that in large discs, the decrease in RNFL with age has more impact on optic disc parameters. In large discs, when retinal nerve fibres are lost, there is a larger area for fibres to redistribute and this results in a larger cup. There is potential here for misinterpretation of this physiological cup increase.

A cohort study to evaluate the evolution of the optic disc and inner retinal layer thickness during childhood.
Gama R, da Costa RS, Gaspar S, et al.
JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2024;61(6):410–5.
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Fiona Rowe (Prof)
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Fiona Rowe (Prof)

Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.

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