Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the association of axial length with retinal parameters using optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography.
Methods :
A prospective and cross-sectional study performed in Jidong, Tangshan, China from August 2019 to January 2020. Participants with eligible fundus images from the Jidong Eye Cohort Study were enrolled, after excluding participants with ocular or systemic history. Ocular biometry was used to measure axial length. Participants were categorized into six groups according to axial length. The ganglion cell complex with detailed segments of superficial retinal thickness, including the retinal nerve fiber, ganglion cell, and inner plexiform layers were obtained from automated algorithms. Retinal capillary plexus vessel density was calculated by adjusting the magnification of original images.
Results :
Among 2090 participants, the mean age was 40.5 ± 10.2 years and 38.7% were men. For 2090 eyes, the range of the axial length was 20.30–29.26 mm. The superficial retinal thickness in the ganglion cell complex, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer linearly increased as axial length increased up to 24.50 mm and kept stable with axial lengths > 25.50 mm. For the parafoveal retinal nerve fiber layer, retinal thickness linearly increased with axial length. The superficial retinal capillary plexus vessel density decreased linearly as axial length increased. However, the deep retinal capillary plexus vessel density kept stable in axial lengths < 24.50 mm and decreased in longer lengths. Furthermore, gender influenced the association between axial length and superficial retinal thickness of the inferior ganglion cell complex and of the superior and inferior ganglion cell layers.
Conclusions :
Superficial retinal thickness in the ganglion cell complex, ganglion cell layers, and inner plexiform layer varied non-linearly as axial length increased, but changed linearly in the retinal nerve fiber layer. Vessel density in the superficial and deep retinal capillary plexus decreased linearly and non-linearly, respectively. Therefore, the relationship between axial length and retinal parameters should be considered when assessing optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography data.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.