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[Determination of retinal thickness in relation to the age and axial length using optical coherence tomography]
W Göbel1, F Hartmann, W Haigis
1Universitäts-Augenklinik Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, 97080 Würzburg.
Purpose:
It is unknown whether the thickness of the retina depends on axial length or on age. We therefore used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study this relationship.
Methods And Materials:
We recruited 159 subjects aged 13-92 years (205 eyes) without macular pathology. OCT measurements included three horizontal scans and one vertical scan through the fovea. Axial length was determined by an analog high-resolution biometric unit.
Results:
There was no correlation between retinal thickness and either axial length or age. Mean retinal thickness in the fovea was 142 +/- 18 microns. In the nasal retina thickness was significantly increased to 266 +/- 17 microns, compared to 249 +/- 18 microns in the temporal retina. Retinal thickness in subjects' two eyes was significantly correlated.
Conclusions:
Since retinal thickness does not depend upon age or length of the eye, no corrections are necessary when analyzing pathological retinal thickening, such as in diabetic retinal disease.
