Developmental Changes in Retinal Microvasculature in Children: A Quantitative Analysis Using Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric ophthalmology
• Medical imaging

Background:

• The development of the retinal microvasculature in children is crucial for visual health.
• Understanding age-related changes in macular vasculature is important for diagnosing and monitoring eye conditions in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify macular microvasculature in healthy children across different age groups using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).
• To analyze age-related changes in vascular density, perfusion density, and fovea avascular zone (FAZ) parameters.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study included 333 healthy children aged 4 to 16 years.
• Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was used to image a 3x3 mm macular area.
• Measurements included vascular density, perfusion density, FAZ area, FAZ perimeter, and FAZ acircularity index (AI), adjusted for axial length.

Main Results:

• Macular vascular density and perfusion density significantly increased with age (P < .0001 and P = .0028, respectively).
• Macular vascular density correlated with age after adjustments for spherical equivalent and axial length (r = 0.183; P = .001).
• The fovea avascular zone (FAZ) area and perimeter remained unchanged, but its acircularity index (AI) decreased with age, indicating a smoother shape in older children. Younger children exhibited more irregular FAZ structures.

Conclusions:

• Macular vascular density and perfusion density show continuous age-related increases in children.
• The fovea avascular zone (FAZ) microstructure refines during development, becoming smoother and more regular, despite no significant changes in its area or perimeter.