This study aimed to establish a normative database of optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Cirrus SD-OCT) parameters and to investigate if gender, ethnicity and axial length affect these measures by evaluating the effects of age and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) in ages 3–17.9 years. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of 137 children (274 eyes); 85 female and 52 male. SER was between ±6D. All had normal visual function. A cut-off age of 10 years was used as this was shown to have the most significant differences of ±10 years. For optic nerve measures: In children >10 years, average retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, rim area, disc area and RNFL thickness of the inferior quadrant were significantly decreased. There were significantly smaller rim area, average RNFL and superior and inferior RNFL quadrants for myopic eyes vs hyperopic eyes. There were no significant differences associated with gender. Ethic differences were found: significantly higher cup volume and average cup-disc ratio for Blacks vs Whites, and greater average RNFL thickness, superior RNFL quadrant and cup volume for North Africans vs Whites. There was a significant negative correlation for age with rim area, and temporal RNFL quadrant. A significant positive correlation was noted for SER and rim area, and average inferior, superior and nasal RNFL quadrants. For ganglion cell layer (GCL) measures: for children >10 years, average GCL thickness and inferior/superior quadrants significantly decreased. There was a thinner GCL for myopic vs emmetropic eyes. No significant differences were found for gender and ethnicity. SER was significantly positively correlated with GCL thickness. For macular measures: for children >10 years, outer circle and macular thickness significantly decreased whilst central macular thickness was significantly increased which probably represents thickening of the photoreceptor layer and thinning of inner retinal layers. The authors include that RNFL, GCL and macular measurements are influenced by age, refraction, gender and ethnicity.
Normative database of OCT measurements in children
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
Shaping OCT norms in children: the impact of age. Refraction, gender and ethnicity.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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