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Morphometric Analyses of Retinal Sections
Published on: February 19, 2012
Human chorioretinal layer thicknesses measured in macula-wide, high-resolution histologic sections
Christine A Curcio1, Jeffrey D Messinger, Kenneth R Sloan
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0019, USA. curcio@uab.edu
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
|March 23, 2011
Summary
This study details normal human macular layer thicknesses, revealing age-related changes in retinal layers like the outer plexiform layer (OPLHenle). These findings aid in interpreting optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Imaging
- Histology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of human macular chorioretinal layers is crucial for understanding retinal diseases.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices sometimes combine signals from adjacent layers, complicating interpretation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive thickness database of normal human macular chorioretinal layers.
- To characterize individual layer thicknesses, including those often combined in OCT (ganglion cell [GCL]/inner plexiform [IPL] and outer plexiform [OPL]/outer nuclear [ONL] layers).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 0.8-microm-thick, macula-wide histological sections from 18 human donors (aged 40-92).
- Measurement of 21 retinal layers at 25 locations by two trained observers.
- Assessment of tissue volume changes by comparing ex vivo OCT and histological section thickness.
Main Results:
- Histological measurements revealed tissue shrinkage of 14.5% overall and 29% in the fovea.
- Specific layer thicknesses varied with eccentricity; for example, OPLHenle was thickest at 0.4 mm eccentricity.
- Older donors (≥70 years) showed thinner retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid but a thicker OPLHenle compared to younger donors.
Conclusions:
- The study generated the first graphic representation and thickness database of normal macular chorioretinal layers.
- Modern OCT systems can now differentiate previously combined layers (GCL/IPL, OPLHenle/ONL).
- Increased OPLHenle thickness in older individuals may indicate Müller cell hypertrophy due to rod loss.
