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Multidisciplinary Ophthalmic Imaging  |   October 2014
The Association Between the Foveal Avascular Zone and Retinal Thickness
Author Notes
  • School of Optometry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, United States 
  • Correspondence: Stephen A. Burns, School of Optometry, 800 E. Atwater, Bloomington, IN, USA; [email protected]
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science October 2014, Vol.55, 6870-6877. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-15446
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      Toco Y. P. Chui, Dean A. VanNasdale, Ann E. Elsner, Stephen A. Burns; The Association Between the Foveal Avascular Zone and Retinal Thickness. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(10):6870-6877. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-15446.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose.: To investigate the association between the size and shape of the foveal avascular zone and retinal thickness in healthy subjects.

Methods.: In vivo imaging of the foveal microvasculature was performed on 32 subjects by using an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). Motion contrast maps of the AOSLO images were used to generate a montage revealing the foveal capillary network. Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) diameters along the horizontal (FAZH) and vertical (FAZV) meridians were measured on the montages. An asymmetry index (AI) of the FAZ was then computed as the ratio of the FAZH to FAZV. Retinal thickness was investigated by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). Inner retinal layer (INLFAZ) thickness and outer nuclear layer (ONLFAZ) thickness were measured at the edges of the FAZ on the horizontal and vertical SDOCT scans on the same eye.

Results.: The foveal capillary network was readily visualized in all subjects. As expected there was individual variation in the size and shape of the FAZ. Along the horizontal and vertical meridians, the mean ± SD (μm) of the FAZ diameter was 607 ± 217 and 574 ± 155, respectively. The INLFAZ thickness was 68 ± 9 and 66 ± 9, and the ONLFAZ thickness was 103 ± 13 and 105 ± 11, respectively. The mean ± SD of the AI was 1.03 ± 0.27. The difference between FAZH and FAZV decreases with increasing FAZ area (P = 0.004). Mean ONLFAZ was negatively correlated with FAZ effective diameter (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found between mean INLFAZ and FAZ effective diameter (P = 0.16).

Conclusions.: Despite large individual variations in size and shape of the FAZ, the INLFAZ has a relatively constant thickness at the margins of the FAZ, suggesting the presence of retinal capillaries is needed to sustain an INLFAZ thickness greater than 60 μm. A smaller FAZ area is associated with a vertically elongated FAZ.

Introduction
The human retinal vascular network is composed of multiple layers of vessels and capillaries,1,2 supplying oxygen and nutrients as well as disposing metabolic byproducts for the inner retinal layers.3 The fovea vascular network, in contrast, consists of a single layer of interconnected capillaries that perfuse the inner retinal layer.1,2,4 This foveal capillary network forms a ring at the margin of the fovea, producing a capillary-free region called the fovea avascular zone (FAZ). Clinically, the assessment of retinal vasculature perfusion typically requires intravenous injection of fluorescein dye.57 Owing to the invasive nature of fluorescein angiography, these studies are seldom performed on healthy controls. Noninvasive visualization of the foveal capillary network and foveal pit architecture are now provided by advances in retinal imaging, offering the opportunity to examine the foveal vasculature and pit development in healthy and diseased retina.814 Several research groups that used entopic perception,15,16 optical coherence tomography,9,17 and adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy11,12,14 have shown that the size of FAZ varies considerably in healthy subject. Previous studies12,14,18 have reported that larger FAZ is associated with a broader foveal pit in healthy controls. It has also been demonstrated that patients with a history of retinopathy of prematurity have smaller FAZs and narrower foveal pits when compared to full-term controls.19,20 Despite the extensive investigations of the correlations between the FAZ and foveal pit morphology, considerable individual variation of FAZ dimension and foveal pit architecture limits understanding of the relation between the vasculature, the neural and glial components of the retina, and how they interact during foveal development. In addition, previous data from both ex vivo and in vivo studies show that a high density of cones extends out to a greater eccentricity in the horizontal than the vertical meridian.21,22 Thus, if the FAZ develops to provide clear vision in the region of relatively high cone density, it might be expected that the FAZ would extend further laterally than vertically. Conversely, there are presumably physiological penalties for extending cone axons and glia too far from the inner retinal blood supply. To examine the interplay of these factors, we measured the shape and size of the FAZ and the retinal thickness measured at the edge of the FAZ in 32 healthy subjects by using an adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). 
Methods
Subjects
Thirty-two subjects participated in this study (24 males and 8 females; age range, 22–61 years). All subjects received a complete eye examination, including a subjective refraction, examination of the anterior segment and adnexa, and dilated fundus examination. Exclusion criteria for this study included any evidence of retinal pathology or systemic diseases. For the five subjects older than 50 years, the SDOCT scans were reviewed for the presence of vitreous detachment that could distort the FAZ and drusen. The vitreous was either fully attached, fully detached, or partially detached with the transition from attachment to detachment limited to several hundred microns outside the FAZ. All subjects had best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better. Pupil dilation with one drop of 1% tropicamide was performed on all subjects. Informed consent was obtained after a full explanation of the procedures and consequences of the study. This study protocol was approved by the Indiana University Review Board and complied with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. 
Axial Length Measurement
Axial length measurement was made by using an IOL master (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA). A mean of five axial length measurements was obtained for each tested eye. The retinal magnification differences induced by different axial lengths were factored into a calculation of linear retinal units in each eye for the AOSLO images23 and SDOCT b-scans24 as described previously. 
AOSLO Instrumentation
The Indiana AOSLO used in this experiment has been described in detail previously.25 In this study the AOSLO used a supercontinuum source (Fianium, Inc., Southampton, UK) to provide both the wavefront-sensing beacon and the imaging sources. Wavefront sensing and infrared imaging were performed at 740 and 820 nm with wavelengths obtained by using interference filters with bandwidths of 13 and 12 nm, respectively (Semrock, Inc., Lake Forest, IL, USA). Light returning from the retina passed through a confocal aperture that was 10× the Airy disk diameter and optically conjugate to the retinal plane. This 10× Airy disk diameter confocal aperture was measured as approximately 500 μm in the detector plane. In this experiment, the vertical scan was programmed to provide full-frame images of 2° × 1.8° at a frame rate of 28 Hz. The subjects' head movements were stabilized by using a chin and head rest. The incident corneal power level of the infrared light source was set at 50 and 100 μW for the wavefront-sensing beacon and the imaging beam, respectively. All light levels were safe according to the American National Standards Institute ANSI Z136.26 
AOSLO Imaging of Foveal Capillary Network
Retinal imaging of the foveal capillary network was performed on all subjects by using the Indiana AOSLO modified with the multiply scattered light detection scheme.13,27,28 Both eyes were imaged on seven subjects to investigate within-subject variability, and only one eye was imaged on the remaining 25 subjects. During imaging, subjects were instructed to fixate sequentially around the perimeter of the imaging raster (a total of nine fixation points: top right, top middle, top left, left middle, bottom left, bottom middle, bottom right, right middle, and the center of the raster). The center of the fovea was located by comparing the center of fixation on the images when the patient fixated at four different corners and the center of the raster. Typically, a single acquisition of 100 frames (<4 seconds) at each retinal region of interest was sufficient to collect a data set suitable for further image processing. Following acquisition, all video frames were corrected for scan distortion, then the image sequence was automatically filtered to reject blinks and large eye movements. A video frame without eye motion was then selected by the program, and all images were aligned to this frame automatically to remove the effect of eye movements both within and between video frames. Foveal capillary perfusion maps were generated by using the motion contrast image-processing technique as described previously.12 In brief, calculations of the pixel standard error across a stack of ~50 to 80 aligned image sequence of each image region were performed to produce high-resolution maps delineating the capillary network distribution of the fovea. 
FAZ Measurements
The FAZ was delineated manually on a layer mask of the foveal capillary montage by using Adobe Photoshop CS5 (Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA). The FAZ mask was then processed by using custom MATLAB software (The Mathworks, Inc., Natick, MA, USA) for further computation of the FAZ measurements of vertical diameter, the horizontal diameter, and the total FAZ area. The FAZ effective diameter was computed as the diameter of the circle that had the same area as measured FAZ. The FAZ area and diameter along the horizontal (FAZH) and vertical (FAZV) meridians were measured (Fig. 1A). An asymmetry index (AI) of the FAZ was computed as the ratio of the FAZH to FAZV
Figure 1
 
Parameters measured from (A) montage of the foveal capillary network. FAZHori indicates the FAZ diameter measured along the horizontal meridian. (B) Horizontal foveal SDOCT scan. The same parameters were also measured along the vertical foveal SDOCT scan (not shown). ILM, border of the inner limiting membrane (red); ONL/OPL, border of the outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (yellow); RPE, anterior boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium (black dashed), CFT, central foveal thickness (red arrow); INLFAZ, inner retinal layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin; ONLFAZ, outer nuclear layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin.
Figure 1
 
Parameters measured from (A) montage of the foveal capillary network. FAZHori indicates the FAZ diameter measured along the horizontal meridian. (B) Horizontal foveal SDOCT scan. The same parameters were also measured along the vertical foveal SDOCT scan (not shown). ILM, border of the inner limiting membrane (red); ONL/OPL, border of the outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (yellow); RPE, anterior boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium (black dashed), CFT, central foveal thickness (red arrow); INLFAZ, inner retinal layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin; ONLFAZ, outer nuclear layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin.
SDOCT Imaging of the Retinal Thickness
Foveal retinal thickness was measured by using SDOCT (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The SDOCT uses a superluminescent diode with a wavelength of 870 nm as a light source. The axial and lateral resolution of the SDOCT are approximately 7 and 14 μm, respectively. Horizontal and vertical SDOCT b-scans centered at the fovea were obtained for each tested eye. Subjects were instructed to look at the center of the fixation target closely while obtaining the SDOCT b-scans using the manufacturer's eye-tracking feature. Each b-scan was created by averaging 16 frames. All b-scan images were exported as tiff files for further image processing, as previously described.12 To segment the cross-sectional images obtained from SDOCT, the anterior boundary of the RPE layer was identified manually and read into MATLAB (Fig. 1B). The MATLAB program then applied a polynomial algorithm to flatten the RPE layer, based on individual SDOCT images by moving each pixel column vertically. 
Next, the inner limiting membrane (ILM), the external limiting membrane (ELM), and the border between the outer nuclear layer and the outer plexiform layer (ONL/OPL) were traced manually on the flattened image.29 A spline algorithm was used to interpolate between sample points marked on the ILM, the ELM, and the ONL/OPL separately. After manual segmentation, the outer nuclear layer thickness at the FAZ margin (ONLFAZ) was defined as the distance between the ELM and ONL/OPL (Fig. 1B). The inner retinal layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin (INLFAZ) was defined as the distance between the ILM and ONL/OPL. Two measurements of ONLFAZ and INLFAZ were obtained on each horizontal (nasal and temporal measurements) and vertical (superior and inferior measurements) SDOCT scan. The means of ONLFAZ and INLFAZ were then computed by averaging the measurements obtained from both horizontal and vertical SDOCT scan for each subject. 
Central foveal thickness (CFT) was defined as the minimum distance between the ILM and the anterior boundary of the RPE. The center of the fovea on the horizontal and vertical foveal SDOCT scans was defined as the location of the CFT. Foveal photoreceptor thickness (FPT) was then measured at the same location with the maximum distance between the ONL/OPL and the anterior boundary of the RPE. 
Statistical Analysis
Statistical analysis was performed on one eye of each of the 32 subjects. Correlation and statistical significance were computed on the FAZ and SDOCT thickness measurements by using StatView for Windows (Version 5.0; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Correlation between FAZ area and axial length was also studied. Intrasubject variability of the FAZ area was tested in seven subjects who had both eyes imaged. 
Results
The in vivo and noninvasive imaging techniques using AOSLO and SDOCT visualized the foveal capillary network and provided retinal thickness measurements in all 32 subjects (39 eyes). Using these data, we quantified the FAZ size and shape differences across individuals, then compared the retinal thicknesses of selected layers with respect to FAZ size and shape. 
FAZ Dimensions
Complete connections between arterioles and venules were clearly visualized in all subjects. A well-demarcated FAZ was seen in all tested eyes. While there was considerable similarity between fellow eyes (Fig. 2A), there was considerable individual variation in FAZ size and shape (Fig. 2B), with the FAZ area ranging from 0.02 to 0.63 mm2. The mean ± standard deviation of FAZ area, effective diameter, FAZH and FAZV diameter, and asymmetry indices are shown in the Table. The variation between individuals for FAZH had a ratio of more than 10.1 (largest FAZH/smallest FAZH), while the FAZV varied by only a ratio of 3.6 (largest FAZV/smallest FAZV), with a coefficient of variation 36% and 27%, respectively (Fig. 3A). The difference between FAZH and FAZV increased with increasing FAZH (correlation coefficient = 0.72; P < 0.001) and FAZ area (correlation coefficient = 0.49; P = 0.004), indicating that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated with a small FAZ area but more horizontally elongated with larger FAZ area. Figure 3B shows that the AI (ratio of FAZH to FAZV) increased with increasing FAZ effective diameter, also suggesting that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated (when AI < 1) with a small FAZ effective diameter and more horizontally elongated (when AI > 1) with a large FAZ effective diameter. No significant correlation was found between FAZ area and axial length (correlation coefficient = 0.15, P = 0.41). 
Figure 2
 
Foveal avascular zone area masks in 32 subjects with the corresponding axial lengths. A well-demarcated FAZ was seen in all eyes. There was considerable variation in size and shape of the FAZ. (A) Both eyes were examined in 7 of the 32 subjects. No statistical significance was found on FAZ area between two eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.09). (B) Foveal avascular zones in the remaining 25 subjects. Foveal avascular zone and axial length were uncorrelated.
Figure 2
 
Foveal avascular zone area masks in 32 subjects with the corresponding axial lengths. A well-demarcated FAZ was seen in all eyes. There was considerable variation in size and shape of the FAZ. (A) Both eyes were examined in 7 of the 32 subjects. No statistical significance was found on FAZ area between two eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.09). (B) Foveal avascular zones in the remaining 25 subjects. Foveal avascular zone and axial length were uncorrelated.
Figure 3
 
(A) Relationship between FAZH and FAZV. Black line: Linear regression to the data. Dashed line: 1:1 ratio of FAZH to FAZV. (B) Asymmetry index increases with increasing FAZ effective diameter (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < 0.0001). All data indicate that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated with small FAZ area but more horizontally elongated with larger FAZ area. Data were corrected by individual axial length.
Figure 3
 
(A) Relationship between FAZH and FAZV. Black line: Linear regression to the data. Dashed line: 1:1 ratio of FAZH to FAZV. (B) Asymmetry index increases with increasing FAZ effective diameter (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < 0.0001). All data indicate that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated with small FAZ area but more horizontally elongated with larger FAZ area. Data were corrected by individual axial length.
Table
 
Parameters (Mean ± Standard Deviation) Measured From the Foveal Capillary Network Montage and SDOCT Images in 32 Healthy Subjects
Table
 
Parameters (Mean ± Standard Deviation) Measured From the Foveal Capillary Network Montage and SDOCT Images in 32 Healthy Subjects
FAZ Measurements Retinal Thickness Measurements
FAZ area 0.32 ± 0.16 mm2 Horizontal INLFAZ 68 ± 9 μm
Effective diameter 614 ± 184 μm Vertical INLFAZ 66 ± 9 μm
FAZH 607 ± 217 μm Horizontal ONLFAZ 103 ± 13 μm
FAZV 574 ± 155 μm Vertical ONLFAZ 105 ± 11 μm
Asymmetry index 1.03 ± 0.27 CFT 214 ± 26 μm
FPT 194 ± 16 μm
The FAZ area in both eyes was examined in 7 of the 32 subjects. The mean difference between two eyes was 13% (range, 0.1%–27%) for FAZ area and 6% (range, 0.05%–14%) for FAZ effective diameter. The shapes appear similar (Fig. 2). No statistically significant difference was found on FAZ area between two eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.09). 
Retinal Thickness Measurements
The mean ± standard deviation of INLFAZ and ONLFAZ thickness measured at the FAZ margin along the horizontal and vertical meridians, CFT, and FPT are shown in the Table. The mean of the horizontal and vertical ONLFAZ was negatively correlated with FAZ effective diameter with a correlation coefficient = −0.68; P < 0.0001. No significant correlation was found between the mean of horizontal and vertical INLFAZ and FAZ effective diameter (correlation coefficient = 0.26; P = 0.16) (Fig. 4). 
Figure 4
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and retinal thickness measured at the FAZ margin. The average INL thickness, but not the average ONL thickness, is significantly correlated with the size of the FAZ.
Figure 4
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and retinal thickness measured at the FAZ margin. The average INL thickness, but not the average ONL thickness, is significantly correlated with the size of the FAZ.
Central foveal thickness, FPT, and their difference (CFT − FPT) were negatively correlated with the FAZ effective diameter with a correlation coefficient of −0.8 (P < 0.0001), −0.6 (P = 0.0001), and −0.8 (P < 0.0001), respectively (Fig. 5). 
Figure 5
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and foveal retinal thickness. Open circles indicate the difference between CFT (black circles) and FPT (plusses). The CFT, FPT, and difference all decreased significantly as FAZ increased in size.
Figure 5
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and foveal retinal thickness. Open circles indicate the difference between CFT (black circles) and FPT (plusses). The CFT, FPT, and difference all decreased significantly as FAZ increased in size.
Discussion
This study used a noninvasive method to visualize the individual capillaries comprising the FAZ, then quantitatively examined the association between the FAZ dimensions and the retinal thickness at the FAZ margin in normal eyes by using AOSLO and SDOCT. Consistent with prior studies,12,30,31 our results demonstrated that the use of an AOSLO with multiply scattered light detection scheme allows direct and noninvasive visualization of the foveal capillary network without the use of exogenous agent. Our findings of FAZ area and effective diameter are in close agreement with previous studies.5,6,11,12,14,32 Also in agreement with previous studies, we found a large individual variation of the FAZ size and shape in healthy retinas (Fig. 2). Further, although the expected large individual differences were found, there were consistent relations among quantitative parameters. 
FAZ Dimensions and Development
It is not clear why there is a link between the size of FAZ and the degree of horizontal/vertical asymmetry. Histologic studies have indicated that the development of incipient fovea occurs at ~22 to 26 weeks gestational age, occurring while the superior and inferior primary vessels grow toward the horizontal meridian temporal to the fovea. The FAZ is completed and establishes supply to the raphe area by 37 weeks gestational age.33,34 At this point, the FAZ is small and it does not reach its adult dimensions until after birth.34 During this period of foveal development the most complete models tie the formation of the foveal pit and the displacement of the inner retinal layers to mechanical stresses35 caused by the interplay of intraocular pressure and eye growth. We found that a smaller FAZ area is associated with a vertically elongated FAZ (Fig. 3). Within this framework the relation between size and shape could occur owing to differences in the mechanical stresses when forming the foveal pit. That is, the retina vascularizes from the superior and inferior aspects toward the midline during development and this could cause a slight anisotropy in the mechanical properties of the retina, such that enlargement occurred preferentially along the horizontal direction. We have limited data suggesting a lower vascular density along the raphe (Chui TY, et al. IOVS 2012;53:ARVO E-Abstract 5662), but we do not have this extensive data set for most of the subjects in the current study. Thus, our data cannot test this framework but do point to the need for more complete developmental studies. 
FAZ and Cone Packing Density
Previously, we found that there is a marked asymmetry between cone packing density in the horizontal and vertical meridians for younger and older subject groups.29 A similar horizontal elongation is found for the thickness of the outer nuclear layer + Henle fiber layer.29 Again, for both age groups and for both the nearer and farther regions of interest, the nasal retina had the thickest layer measurement and the inferior, the thinnest. Notably, however, there was no tendency for the FAZ to be extended horizontally, as would be expected if there was a strong relation between cone density and the shape of the FAZ. While the presence of an FAZ is clearly related to the presence of a fovea, there is no evidence that the extent of the FAZ conforms to underlying cone distribution, and since photoreceptors are primarily supplied from the choroidal circulation this result is not surprising. 
Correlations of FAZ Dimensions and Inner Retinal Thickness
While there are known correlations between the FAZ dimensions and foveal pit morphology such as foveal pit depth, width, and volume,12,14,18 it is difficult to directly relate these overall geometric relations to potential metabolic demands. We know that the inner retinal neurons and glia require a nearby vascular supply, and this can explain the branching pattern of the vasculature.36 For the inner retina this supply comes from the inner retinal circulation, and thus the existence of the FAZ should be related to the thickness of the inner retinal tissue, based on some critical diffusion distance. In the healthy eye, it is unlikely there would be a thick inner retina without sufficient vasculature to support it. Our findings are in close accordance with this supposition. We found that the inner retinal thickness measured at the margin of the FAZ remains constant with increasing FAZ effective diameter (Fig. 4, circle symbols). If indeed a given amount of vascular supply is required to support a fixed amount of neural tissue this lack of correlation with distance is exactly what would be predicted, the inner retinal thickness is constant at the edge of the FAZ. Examples of example vascular maps and horizontal SDOCT b-scan in patients with different FAZ diameters are shown in Figures 6A through 6D. Thus, during the development of the fovea the migration of the inner retinal cells matches the metabolic support provided by the inner capillary loop. This capillary loop cannot sustain the metabolic demands of inner retinal tissue with a thickness greater than approximately 60 μm. Assuming that this single-layered capillary bed is located at the middle of the inner retinal tissue, oxygen and nutrients are therefore diffused across a distance of ~30 μm from the capillaries to the surrounding tissue. The edges of the FAZ have a lower density of capillaries than nearby regions (for instance see Fig. 1). This presumably occurs for two reasons. First, as the retina thickens outside the central fovea, more layers of capillaries are needed. Second, the actual metabolic demand is approximately set by the mitochondrial demand of neuronal layers, and the edges of the FAZ have a high proportion of Henle fibers and thus cell bodies represent a smaller proportion of the total retinal thickness than they do slightly more eccentrically. A full understanding of the relation of vascular supply and the combined neural/glial activity requires more detailed measurements and modeling; however, the consistency of the inner retinal thickness in the presence of the large anatomic variation in FAZ size suggests that this metabolic interplay is acting during the migration of the cell bodies during development. Gaining further insight will require examining the relation of the inner retinal thickness to total retinal vasculature at retinal regions with multiple capillary beds and different metabolic demands, but this is beyond the scope of the current article. 
Figure 6
 
Comparison of the FAZ and horizontal retinal thickness in subjects with different FAZ diameter. (A) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively smaller FAZ diameter. (B) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (A) shows an overall thickening of the foveola. (C) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively larger FAZ diameter. (D) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (C).
Figure 6
 
Comparison of the FAZ and horizontal retinal thickness in subjects with different FAZ diameter. (A) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively smaller FAZ diameter. (B) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (A) shows an overall thickening of the foveola. (C) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively larger FAZ diameter. (D) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (C).
Conclusions
In summary, our results provided evidence that a smaller FAZ area is associated with a vertically elongated FAZ. The inner retinal layer has a relatively constant thickness at the margins of the FAZ, whether the FAZ is large or small, suggesting the presence of retinal capillaries is needed to sustain an INLFAZ thickness greater than 60 μm. 
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Thomas Gast, Tracy Nguyen, and Douglas Horner for aid in screening subjects. 
A portion of this work has been published previously as an ARVO abstract: Chui TY, et al. IOVS 2012: ARVO E-Abstract 5662. 
Supported by National Institutes of Health Grants EY007624, EB002346, EY04395, EY014375, EY017886, and Vision Science Core Grant P30EY019008. 
Disclosure: T.Y.P. Chui, None; D.A. VanNasdale, None; A.E. Elsner, None; S.A. Burns, None 
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Figure 1
 
Parameters measured from (A) montage of the foveal capillary network. FAZHori indicates the FAZ diameter measured along the horizontal meridian. (B) Horizontal foveal SDOCT scan. The same parameters were also measured along the vertical foveal SDOCT scan (not shown). ILM, border of the inner limiting membrane (red); ONL/OPL, border of the outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (yellow); RPE, anterior boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium (black dashed), CFT, central foveal thickness (red arrow); INLFAZ, inner retinal layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin; ONLFAZ, outer nuclear layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin.
Figure 1
 
Parameters measured from (A) montage of the foveal capillary network. FAZHori indicates the FAZ diameter measured along the horizontal meridian. (B) Horizontal foveal SDOCT scan. The same parameters were also measured along the vertical foveal SDOCT scan (not shown). ILM, border of the inner limiting membrane (red); ONL/OPL, border of the outer nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer (yellow); RPE, anterior boundary of the retinal pigment epithelium (black dashed), CFT, central foveal thickness (red arrow); INLFAZ, inner retinal layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin; ONLFAZ, outer nuclear layer thickness measured at the FAZ margin.
Figure 2
 
Foveal avascular zone area masks in 32 subjects with the corresponding axial lengths. A well-demarcated FAZ was seen in all eyes. There was considerable variation in size and shape of the FAZ. (A) Both eyes were examined in 7 of the 32 subjects. No statistical significance was found on FAZ area between two eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.09). (B) Foveal avascular zones in the remaining 25 subjects. Foveal avascular zone and axial length were uncorrelated.
Figure 2
 
Foveal avascular zone area masks in 32 subjects with the corresponding axial lengths. A well-demarcated FAZ was seen in all eyes. There was considerable variation in size and shape of the FAZ. (A) Both eyes were examined in 7 of the 32 subjects. No statistical significance was found on FAZ area between two eyes (paired t-test, P = 0.09). (B) Foveal avascular zones in the remaining 25 subjects. Foveal avascular zone and axial length were uncorrelated.
Figure 3
 
(A) Relationship between FAZH and FAZV. Black line: Linear regression to the data. Dashed line: 1:1 ratio of FAZH to FAZV. (B) Asymmetry index increases with increasing FAZ effective diameter (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < 0.0001). All data indicate that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated with small FAZ area but more horizontally elongated with larger FAZ area. Data were corrected by individual axial length.
Figure 3
 
(A) Relationship between FAZH and FAZV. Black line: Linear regression to the data. Dashed line: 1:1 ratio of FAZH to FAZV. (B) Asymmetry index increases with increasing FAZ effective diameter (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < 0.0001). All data indicate that the FAZ shape is more vertically elongated with small FAZ area but more horizontally elongated with larger FAZ area. Data were corrected by individual axial length.
Figure 4
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and retinal thickness measured at the FAZ margin. The average INL thickness, but not the average ONL thickness, is significantly correlated with the size of the FAZ.
Figure 4
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and retinal thickness measured at the FAZ margin. The average INL thickness, but not the average ONL thickness, is significantly correlated with the size of the FAZ.
Figure 5
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and foveal retinal thickness. Open circles indicate the difference between CFT (black circles) and FPT (plusses). The CFT, FPT, and difference all decreased significantly as FAZ increased in size.
Figure 5
 
Relation between FAZ effective diameter and foveal retinal thickness. Open circles indicate the difference between CFT (black circles) and FPT (plusses). The CFT, FPT, and difference all decreased significantly as FAZ increased in size.
Figure 6
 
Comparison of the FAZ and horizontal retinal thickness in subjects with different FAZ diameter. (A) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively smaller FAZ diameter. (B) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (A) shows an overall thickening of the foveola. (C) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively larger FAZ diameter. (D) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (C).
Figure 6
 
Comparison of the FAZ and horizontal retinal thickness in subjects with different FAZ diameter. (A) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively smaller FAZ diameter. (B) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (A) shows an overall thickening of the foveola. (C) Foveal capillary network in a subject with relatively larger FAZ diameter. (D) The horizontal OCT scan from the same subject in (C).
Table
 
Parameters (Mean ± Standard Deviation) Measured From the Foveal Capillary Network Montage and SDOCT Images in 32 Healthy Subjects
Table
 
Parameters (Mean ± Standard Deviation) Measured From the Foveal Capillary Network Montage and SDOCT Images in 32 Healthy Subjects
FAZ Measurements Retinal Thickness Measurements
FAZ area 0.32 ± 0.16 mm2 Horizontal INLFAZ 68 ± 9 μm
Effective diameter 614 ± 184 μm Vertical INLFAZ 66 ± 9 μm
FAZH 607 ± 217 μm Horizontal ONLFAZ 103 ± 13 μm
FAZV 574 ± 155 μm Vertical ONLFAZ 105 ± 11 μm
Asymmetry index 1.03 ± 0.27 CFT 214 ± 26 μm
FPT 194 ± 16 μm
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