Relationship between age and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness: an optical coherence tomography study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• The peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) is crucial for visual function.
• Age-related changes in ocular structures are well-documented.
• Accurate assessment of RNFL thickness is vital for diagnosing and monitoring optic neuropathies like glaucoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between age and peripapillary RNFL thickness in a healthy Chinese population.
• To determine if age influences RNFL measurements obtained via optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 218 healthy Chinese volunteers (age 11-69 years) was conducted.
• Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess the correlation between age and RNFL thickness.

Main Results:

• The mean age of participants was 40 years.
• The mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was 111.6 micrometres.
• A significant negative correlation was found between age and peripapillary RNFL thickness (r = -0.28, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Peripapillary RNFL thickness, as measured by OCT, shows a significant negative correlation with age in healthy Chinese individuals.
• This age-related decline in RNFL thickness could potentially confound the interpretation of glaucoma assessments.
• The development of age-adjusted normative data may be necessary for accurate clinical interpretation of RNFL thickness measurements.