The optic nerve head assessed with HRT in 5-16-year-old normal children: normal values, repeatability and interocular...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Optic Nerve Imaging

Background:

• Accurate assessment of the optic nerve head is crucial for diagnosing pediatric optic nerve diseases.
• Heidelberg retina tomography (HRT) is a valuable tool for optic nerve head analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normal optic nerve head values using HRT in children aged 5-16.
• To assess the repeatability and interocular differences of HRT measurements in this pediatric cohort.
• To evaluate the utility of HRT for diagnosing optic nerve abnormalities in children.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six children (5-16 years) with normal vision underwent HRT examinations (HRT-II/III).
• Three scans per eye were performed to analyze normal values and repeatability.
• Intraclass correlation (ICC) and coefficient of variance were calculated; interocular differences were assessed.

Main Results:

• Mean disc area was 2.16 mm², and mean rim area was 1.75 mm².
• Repeatability was high, with ICCs >0.88 for most parameters.
• Rim area showed the least variation, suggesting it as a key parameter for follow-up.

Conclusions:

• HRT is suitable for evaluating the optic nerve head in children aged 5-16.
• The established normal values can aid in diagnosing pediatric optic nerve diseases.
• Rim area is recommended for longitudinal monitoring due to its high repeatability.