Peripapillary choroidal thickness in Chinese children using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography

To evaluate the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) in Chinese children, and to analyze the influencing factors.

PPCT was measured with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in 70 children (53 myopes and 17 non-myopes) aged 7 to 18y, with spherical equivalent refractive errors between 0.50 and -5.87 diopters (D). Peripapillary choroidal imaging was performed using circular scans of a diameter of 3.4 mm around the optic disc. PPCT was measured by EDI-OCT in six sectors: nasal (N), superonasal (SN), superotemporal (ST), temporal (T), inferotemporal (IT) and inferonasal (IN), as well as global RNFL thickness (G).

The mean global PPCT was 165.49±33.76 µm. The temporal, inferonasal, inferotemporal PPCT were significantly thinner than the nasal, superonasal, superotemporal segments PPCT were significantly thinner in the myopic group at temporal, superotemporal and inferotemporal segments. The axial length was significantly associated with the average global (β=-0.419, P=0.014), superonasal (β=-2.009, P=0.049) and inferonasal (β= -2.000, P=0.049) PPCT. The other factors (gender, age, SE) were not significantly associated with PPCT.

PPCT was thinner in the myopic group at temporal, superotemporal and inferotemporal segments. The axial length was found to be negatively correlated to PPCT. We need more further studies about the relationship between PPCT and myopia.