Normative reference ranges for the retinal nerve fiber layer, macula, and retinal layer thicknesses in children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Pediatric Eye Care

Background:

• Establishing normative data for retinal imaging in pediatric populations is crucial for early disease detection.
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) offers high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of the retina.
• Previous studies have not fully characterized normative retinal layer thicknesses in healthy children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a normative database of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and retinal layer thickness in healthy North American children.
• To utilize spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) for precise pediatric retinal measurements.
• To provide reference ranges for diagnosing retinal and optic nerve abnormalities in children.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, cross-sectional study involving 83 healthy children aged 5-15 years.
• Utilized the Spectralis SD OCT device for imaging one eye per child.
• Employed custom software for segmenting retinal layers and Heidelberg Spectralis SD OCT software for RNFL and macular thickness analysis.

Main Results:

• Average global peripapillary RNFL thickness was 107.6 ± 1.2 μm; average central subfield macular thickness was 271.2 ± 2.0 μm.
• Pediatric RNFL and macular thickness were found to be thicker than in adults, with significant age correlation.
• The outer segment layer was 36% thinner in children compared to adults, while other layers were comparable.

Conclusions:

• SD OCT is effective for assessing RNFL, macular, and retinal layer thickness in children as young as 5 years.
• Normative pediatric values and reference ranges for these measurements have been established.
• These data serve as a vital standard for identifying retinal and optic nerve abnormalities in pediatric patients.