Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate detailed retinal layer thickness in children compared with an adult group using a manual segmentation procedure. Normative data in commercially available optical coherence tomography (OCT) instruments are based on an adult population. Could we use those normative data for pediatric patients or do we need to establish a separate pediatric normative data group?
Methods:
Macular and peripapillar spectral domain OCT (Heidelberg Engineering ®) scans were obtained in children (5-14 years, group 1) and adults (25-35 years, group 2) using the a standard grid of 31 horizontal line scans centered at the foveola and a circular ring around the optic disc, respectively. Manual layer segmentation of 6 segments (according to Hood et al. 2009) was performed at 4 positions about 1250 µm from the foveola: total retinal thickness (TR), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), retinal ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer (RCG+), inner nuclear layer (INL), total receptor (REC+), receptor outer segment and RPE (OS+). Data of automated measurements of foveolar thickness and peripapillary RNFL were included. Data of the two age groups were compared.
Results:
Data of n=12 (group1) and n=15 (group 2) were analyzed so far. TR, INL and foveolar thickness were thinner at all retinal positions measured in children than in the adult group. RNFL, RCG+, REC+ and OS+ were only slightly different at the 4 macular positions between the two groups. Peripapillary RNFL was thicker in children than in the adult group. None of the differences were statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Retinal layer thickness in children is not significant different compared with a young adult group. There is a trend of thinner retinal layers in children. A normative database of children might be recommended to detect subtle changes in the patient population, for example in early retinal or optic nerve diseases.
Keywords: 550 imaging/image analysis: clinical •
413 aging