Korean J Ophthalmol.  2008 Jun;22(2):115-122. 10.3341/kjo.2008.22.2.115.

The Effects of Optic Disc Factors on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurement in Children

• Jun JH
• Lee SY

• KMID: 1099006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2008.22.2.115

Abstract

PURPOSE: We analyzed the effect of the changes of the optic disc area (ODA) caused by the axial length and the refractive error, and the consequent changes of the distance from the optic disc margin to the circular scan (OD-CS) of Optical coherence tomography (OCT) on the measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT) were examined. METHODS: One hundred two eyes of 51 children (age range 4 to 15 years) were measured using OCT including the RNFLT. For the ODA and the OD-CS, the relative area formed by the ODA and the circular scan was obtained. In addition, the correlation of the refractive error and the axial length to the optic disc factors was assessed. RESULTS: As hyperopia progresses to myopia, the axial length became longer, the ODA became smaller (r=-0.442, p=0.000) and the OD-CS showed a tendency to increase (r=0.471, p=0.000). As the OD-CS became longer, the measured average RNFLT decreased significantly (r=-0.248, p=0.012), and the ODA and the OD-CS showed a significant correlation to the RNFL thickness that was measured in the nasal and inferior areas, the S2, N2 and N3 areas and the I1 area. CONCLUSIONS: As ODA becomes smaller and the OD-CS becomes longer, the RNFLT measured in the nasal and inferior areas, the S2, N2, N3, I1 area has a tendency to be thinner. Hence, consideration of the disc area is required when interpreting the RNFLT of these eyes.

Keyword

Children; Optic disc; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Aging/physiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Glaucoma/diagnosis
Humans
Male
Nerve Fibers/*pathology
Optic Disk/*pathology
Optic Nerve Diseases/*physiopathology
Refraction, Ocular
Refractive Errors/*physiopathology
Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Visual Acuity

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Relationship between the spherical equivalent (diopter) and age (years). Note the relationship showing a decrease of the spherical equivalent with increasing age.

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  Fig. 2 Relationship between axial length (mm) and age (years). Note the relationship showing an increase of the axia length with increasing age.

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  Fig. 3 Relationship between the optic disc diameter (mm2) and age (years). Note the relationship showing a decrease of the optic disc diameter with increasing age.

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  Fig. 4 Relationship between the distance from the optic disc margin to the circular scan of optical coherence tomography (R2-R1) and age (years). Note the relationship showing an increased of the distance with increasing age.

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  Fig. 5 Relationship between the optic disc area (mm2) and the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (µm). Note the significant statistical correlation of the increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with the increasing disc diameter, and between the optic disc diameter and the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

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  Fig. 6 Relationship between the distance from the optic disc margin to the circular scan of optical coherence tomography (mm) and the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (µm). Note the significant statistical correlation of the increased retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with the increasing distance, and between the distance and the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

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  Fig. 7 (A, B) 12 equal 30-degree sectors of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness that was measured by a circular scanning diameter of 3.4 mm around the optic disc by optical coherence tomography in the right and left eye, The dark colored sectors have significant statistical correlation between the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the optic disc area. (C,D) Four 90 degree quadrants of the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness that were measured by a circular scan. The dark colored quadrants have significant correlation between the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the optic disc area.

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