Increased Vertical Asymmetry of Macular Retinal Layers in Myopic Chinese Children

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Retinal Imaging

Background:

• Refractive errors, particularly myopia, are a growing global health concern in children.
• Understanding the structural changes in the retina associated with refractive error is crucial for early detection and management.
• Retinal asymmetry may indicate underlying developmental or pathological processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between refractive status and retinal layer asymmetry in children.
• To identify specific retinal layers and regions most affected by asymmetry in relation to myopia.
• To explore factors influencing vertical retinal asymmetry in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 2964 children aged 11.67 years in Shanghai, China.
• Swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure retinal layer thickness.
• Asymmetry Index (AI) was calculated for the ganglion cell layer+inner plexiform layer (GCL+), ganglion cell complex (GCC), and neural retina using ETDRS grid sectors.

Main Results:

• Greater retinal layer asymmetry (AI) was observed in myopic children compared to hyperopes and emmetropes in the perifoveal region (p < 0.001).
• Increased myopia severity correlated with larger AIs in the GCL+ and neural retina in the perifoveal area.
• No significant differences in AI were found between refractive groups in the parafoveal region.

Conclusions:

• Vertical retinal asymmetry increases in the perifoveal region of myopic children.
• The ganglion cell layer+inner plexiform layer and neural retina show more significant changes in asymmetry than the ganglion cell complex.
• These findings highlight structural adaptations in the myopic pediatric retina.