Korean J Ophthalmol.  2005 Sep;19(3):195-200. 10.3341/kjo.2005.19.3.195.

Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness of Normal Children and Adolescents

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. joohlee@sanggyepaik.ac.kr
  • 2Han Kook Eye Clinic, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To determine the normal range of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of normal children and adolescents by optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This study analyzed 144 eyes of 72 normal children and adolescents by OCTIII (Zeiss-Humphrey, San Leandro, CA., USA) and the results were compared with the RNFL thickness of Korean adults. RESULTS: The mean RNFL thickness of the 72 normal children and adolescents was 105.53+/-10.33 micrometer. The mean values for left and right eyes were 104.28+/-7.68 micrometer and 106.79+/-12.98 micrometer, respectively. There was no significant difference in mean RNFL thickness between the 4 quadrants of the left and right eyes (p=0.926). Additionally, the mean RNFL thickness showed a similar size pattern regardless of age (p=0.99). RNFL thickness was found to be greater in adults than in children or adolescents, although the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.295. Likewise, no significant difference was found with gender (p=0.822) or in the pattern of RNFL thickness of 12 sectors between children and adults (p=0.08). CONCLUSIONS: This study reports RNFL thickness, as determined by OCT, for normal children and adolescents. We found this measurement method to be suitable for the early diagnosis of glaucoma and to the examination of its progression in these subjects. The findings could be used as clinical parameters for adolescent glaucoma.

Keyword

Adolescent glaucoma; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness

MeSH Terms

Tomography, Optical Coherence
Retina/*anatomy & histology
Reference Values
Nerve Fibers/*ultrastructure
Male
Humans
Female
Child
Adult
Adolescent

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of each quadrant in the left and right eyes.

  • Fig. 2 (A) Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness according to age (right eye). (B) Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness according to age (left eye).

  • Fig. 3 Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of subjects and adults. *Lee JH, Ahn CS, Lee DY. Quantification of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in the Normal Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 1999;40:2804-15.

  • Fig. 4 Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness according to gender.

  • Fig. 5 Mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of 12 sectors. *Lee JH, Ahn CS, Lee DY. Quantification of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in the Normal Subjects Using Optical Coherence Tomography. J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 1999;40:2804-15.


Cited by  3 articles

Factors Mediating Effects on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Normal Children
Yun-Keun Cho, Young-Choon Lee, Se-Youp Lee
J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2008;49(1):98-103.    doi: 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.1.98.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Children With Glaucoma
Kui Dong Kang, Aman Shah B. Abdul Majid, Yeon Deok Kim, Jee hyun Kwag, Hye Bin Yim
J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2009;50(6):887-892.    doi: 10.3341/jkos.2009.50.6.887.

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Volume Measurements in Normal Children Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Dong Eik Lee, Joong Won Shin, Han Woong Lim, Yong Un Shin, Min Ho Kang, Hee Yoon Cho, Min Cheol Seong
J Korean Ophthalmol Soc. 2016;57(5):800-807.    doi: 10.3341/jkos.2016.57.5.800.


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