Posterior pole retinal thickness measurements by the retinal thickness analyzer in healthy Chinese subjects

To assess retinal thickness at the posterior pole in healthy Chinese subjects with the retinal thickness analyzer (RTA).

Retinal thicknesses at the posterior pole and fovea were measured by the RTA in 331 eyes of 178 healthy Chinese subjects. Retinal thicknesses as a function of sex, age, refractive errors, and axial length were also evaluated.

The average thickness of the foveal area +/- SD was 158.6 +/- 24.8 microm, the average thickness of the perifoveal region (600-2,500 microm from fovea) +/- SD was 174 +/- 25.2 microm, and the average thickness of the posterior pole region (600-6,000 microm from fovea) +/- SD was 171.9 +/- 25.3 microm. There was no significant difference in retinal thicknesses of the foveal, perifoveal, and posterior pole regions in either right or left eyes or as a function of different spherical equivalents. Moreover, there was no significant difference of foveal thickness between males and females. Greater retinal thicknesses of the foveal, perifoveal, and posterior pole regions were associated with age of older than 40 years and axial length of < 24 mm, and greater perifoveal and posterior pole thicknesses were found for females. Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between age, refractive errors, and axial lengths with retinal thicknesses.

Retinal thicknesses of the posterior pole region differed by age, axial length, and sex, but there was no effect of laterality or different spherical equivalents. The RTA is a fast and noninvasive technology to assess retinal conditions with thickening or thinning in the fovea and posterior pole.