Choroidal thickness in normal Indian subjects using Swept source optical coherence tomography.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Anatomy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Choroidal thickness is a key indicator of ocular health.
• Variations in choroidal thickness can be associated with various ocular and systemic diseases.
• Understanding normative choroidal thickness values in specific populations is crucial for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative values for choroidal thickness in healthy Indian subjects.
• To investigate the influence of age and gender on choroidal thickness in this population.
• To utilize Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (SS-OCT) for precise choroidal measurements.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study involving 230 healthy Indian subjects.
• Choroidal thickness was measured using SS-OCT.
• Subjects were categorized into six age groups to analyze age-related changes in subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and macular choroidal thickness (MCT).

Main Results:

• The mean SFCT was 307±79 μm and mean MCT was 285±75 μm.
• A significant negative correlation was observed between increasing age and both SFCT and MCT (p<0.001).
• No statistically significant difference in choroidal thickness was found between genders.

Conclusions:

• Mean SFCT and MCT in healthy Indian subjects are 307±79 μm and 285±75 μm, respectively.
• Choroidal thickness significantly decreases with advancing age in Indian adults.
• Gender does not appear to influence choroidal thickness in this healthy Indian cohort.