Interocular Symmetry of Macular Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness in Young Chinese Subjects

To report interocular differences in macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC) thickness in young Chinese subjects using RTVue-100 optical coherence tomography (OCT).

This was an observational, cross-sectional study. The mGCC thickness was measured in 158young Chinese subjects using RTVue-100 OCT. The normal ranges of the interocular differences were determined as falling between the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles. Right and left eyes were compared using a paired t test. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationships between mGCC thickness and other potential factors. The relationships between the interocular difference in the average mGCC thickness and the potential factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis.

The mean interocular difference in the average, superior, and inferior mGCC thickness were 0.19 ± 2.69 μm, 0.22 ±3.14 μm, and 0.25±3.34 μm, respectively, which were not statistically significant. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of interocular difference for mean average mGCC thickness were -4.82μm and 4.38μm, for superior mGCC thickness, -6.67 μm and 7.04 μm, and for inferior mGCC thickness, -6.75 μm and 6.27 μm. There was a strong correlation between the right and left eyes for all the studied parameters, including spherical equivalent (SE) and axial length (AL). Interocular difference in SE (p = 0.007) were independently correlated with the interocular difference in average mGCC thickness.

There was no significant relative interocular difference in mGCC thickness in young Chinese subjects. Interocular difference exceeding the normal limits should be considered significantly asymmetrical, and suggestive of pathology.