Abstract
Purpose: :
The aim of this study is to evaluate the associations between macular volume and thickness, as assessed by optic coherence tomography (OCT), with refraction and axial length (AL) in Singaporean children.
Methods: :
A total of 104 Chinese school children (51 girls and 53 boys) 11 to 12 years old were randomly selected from one school during the 2005 examination of the Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for Myopia (SCORM) study. Cycloplegic autorefraction was performed to obtain refraction (defined as spherical equivalent, SE) and ultrasound biometry performed to obtain AL. Macular volume and thickness were measured by OCT.
Results: :
Children with moderate myopia (SE at least –3.0 Diopters [D]) tended to have the smaller total macular volume and thinner quadrant–specific macular thickness (except inferior inner and superior inner quadrant), followed by children with low myopia (–0.5 ≤ SE < –3.0 D), as compared with children with no myopia (SE > –0.5 D). Total macular volume was positively correlated with SE (beta, ß=1.58, 95% CI, 0.84 to 2.32, standardized ß=0.14, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with AL (ß= –1.20, 95%CI, –1.62 to –0.79, standardized ß=0.45, P<0.001) in multiple linear regression models controlling for age and gender.
Conclusions: :
In children, increasing severity of axial myopia is associated with reduced macular volumes and macular thickness. These findings suggest that early anatomical changes may be present in the retinas of children with axial myopia. The significance of these changes requires further prospective studies.
Keywords: myopia • macula/fovea • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)