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Corneal Epithelium Thickness Profile in 614 Normal Chinese Children Aged 7-15 Years Old
Yingyan Ma1,2, Xiangui He1,3, Xiaofeng Zhu2
1Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention &Treatment Center, No. 380 KangDing Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
Insights
Corneal epithelium thickness (CET) in Chinese children is thinner superiorly and temporally. Thicker central CET correlates with older age and male gender, but not refractive error.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Corneal Imaging
- Pediatric Optometry
Background:
- Corneal epithelium thickness (CET) is a crucial parameter in ophthalmic assessments.
- Understanding CET distribution and influencing factors in pediatric populations is vital for eye health.
- Previous studies on CET in Asian children are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the normal values and spatial distribution of corneal epithelium thickness (CET) in Chinese school-aged children.
- To investigate factors associated with CET variations in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) was used to map CET in 7-15 year olds.
- Measurements included central, para-central, and peripheral CET across corneal zones.
- Corneal curvature radius (CCR), axial length, and refraction were also assessed.
Main Results:
- CET was thinner in the superior and temporal cornea compared to inferior and nasal regions, respectively.
- Maximum CET was observed inferiorly, minimum CET superiorly.
- Thicker central CET was associated with male gender and older age, but not CCR, axial length, or refraction.
Conclusions:
- This study provides normative data for CET in Chinese school-aged children.
- Age and gender are significant factors influencing central CET, while CCR, age, and gender correlate with peripheral CET.
- Findings contribute to a better understanding of corneal physiology in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The purpose of the study is to describe the values and distribution of corneal epithelium thickness (CET) in normal Chinese school-aged children, and to explore associated factors with CET. CET maps were measured by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) in normal Chinese children aged 7 to 15 years old from two randomly selected schools in Shanghai, China. Children with normal intraocular pressure were further examined for cycloplegic autorefraction, corneal curvature radius (CCR) and axial length. Central (2-mm diameter area), para-central (2- to 5-mm diameter area), and peripheral (5- to 6-mm diameter area) CET in the superior, superotemporal, temporal, inferotemporal, inferior, inferonasal, nasal, superonasal cornea; minimum, maximum, range, and standard deviation of CET within the 5-mm diameter area were recorded. The CET was thinner in the superior than in the inferior and was thinner in the temporal than in the nasal. The maximum CET was located in the inferior zone, and the minimum CET was in the superior zone. A thicker central CET was associated with male gender (p = 0.009) and older age (p = 0.037) but not with CCR (p = 0.061), axial length (p = 0.253), or refraction (p = 0.351) in the multiple regression analyses. CCR, age, and gender were correlated with para-central and peripheral CET.
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