Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Using Cholesky Decomposition to Explore Individual Differences in Longitudinal Relations between Reading Skills
Published on: September 17, 2019
Changes in choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric individuals: a longitudinal study
Eiko Ohsugi1,2, Yoshinori Mitamura2, Kayo Shinomiya2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Saneikai Tsukazaki Hospital, Himeji 671-1227, Japan.
Insights
Choroidal thickness significantly decreased in healthy Japanese children over 1.5 years. This thinning correlated with increased axial length, body height, and weight, suggesting these factors influence pediatric eye development.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Optical Coherence Tomography
Background:
- Choroidal thickness is a key indicator of ocular health.
- Longitudinal data on choroidal thickness changes in healthy children is limited.
- Understanding factors influencing choroidal development is crucial for early detection of eye conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess changes in choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric subjects.
- To identify ocular and systemic factors correlated with choroidal thickness variations.
- To provide normative data for pediatric choroidal development.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving 34 healthy Japanese children (64 eyes).
- Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) used for retinal and choroidal imaging.
- Choroidal thickness mapped across nine sectors; axial length, height, and weight also measured.
Main Results:
- Mean central choroidal thickness significantly decreased from baseline (301.8 µm) to follow-up (286.6 µm) (P<0.001).
- Choroidal thinning was most pronounced in central sectors and correlated negatively with age, body height, body weight, and axial length elongation.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric choroidal thickness significantly decreases during early childhood.
- Axial length elongation is a primary factor associated with this choroidal thinning.
- These findings are important for evaluating retinochoroidal disorders in young children.
Aim:
To investigate the changes in the choroidal thickness in healthy pediatric children in a longitudinal study, and to determine the ocular and systemic parameters that were significantly correlated with the changes in the choroidal thickness.
Methods:
This study included 64 eyes of 34 healthy Japanese children with a mean age (±SD) of 4.4 (±0.4)y (range, 3.6-5.8y) at baseline. Swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) was used to record images of the retina and choroid at the baseline and after a mean follow-up period of about 1.5y. The 3D raster scan protocol was used to construct the choroidal thickness map. Mean choroidal thickness was calculated for each of the nine sectors of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid. Best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, body height, and weight were also measured. Changes in measurements were defined as the baseline values subtracted from the values at the final visit. A generalized estimating equation was used to eliminate the effect of within-subject intereye correlations.
Results:
The mean central choroidal thickness was significantly reduced during the follow-up period (baseline, 301.8±8.6 µm; final visit, 286.6±8.0 µm, P<0.001). The decrease in the choroidal thickness was greatest in the central sector, followed by the sectors of the inner and outer rings. The inner and outer rings had diameters of 1 to 3 mm and 3 to 6 mm, respectively. The changes in the choroidal thickness in the central, inner ring, and outer ring sectors were significantly and negatively correlated with the age, baseline body height, baseline body weight, and elongation of the axial length.
Conclusion:
These results indicate that the choroidal thickness among preschool-aged Japanese children decreased significantly during the follow-up period. The choroidal thinning is significantly associated with the elongation of axial length. These characteristics should be considered in the evaluation of choroidal thickness in younger children with retinochoroidal disorders.
More Related Videos
09:56In Vivo Multimodal Imaging and Analysis of Mouse Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization Model
Published on: January 21, 2018
03:35Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: December 1, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:26Longitudinal Studies
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
01:30Impact of Individuals on Individuals
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:28Impact of Groups on Individuals