Abstract:
To measure the thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in healthy children using optical coherence tomography (OCT, Version 4).
Patients age 4–15 years with no ocular pathology other than refractive error (less than 5 dipoters sphere) were offered entry into this study. The "Fast RNFL Thickness (3.4)" OCT protocol (STRATUS OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Dublin, CA) was performed on both eyes of each subject with a circular scan of 3.46 mm, centered on the optic disc. RNFL thickness was measured, along with scan quality (signal strength on 0–10 scale; 10 = optimal).
Of 38 attempted scans, 38 could be performed. Mean ±; SD signal strength was 9.3 ±; 0.9 in right eyes and 9.4 ±; 0.7 in left eyes). On average, the RNFL was thickest inferiorly, followed by superiorly. It was thinner nasally, and thinnest temporally (see table, all data in micrometer). These differences were statistically significant. The average RNFL thickness was 108.9 ±; 10 micrometer in right eyes and 107.5 ±; 10.6 micrometer in left eyes (difference not statistically significant). The range of normal RNFL thickness was large (see table).
The OCT can be used to measure RNFL thickness in children. In this pilot study, the average peripapillary RNFL thickness in children was less than in previously published adult populations (Varma, 2003; Schuman 1996). Development of normative pediatric RNFL thickness values may facilitate the diagnosis and management of pediatric glaucoma, as well as neuro–ophthalmological and retinal disorders in children.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • neuro-ophthalmology: optic nerve • anatomy