Choroidal Thickness in Indigenous Australian Children.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Public Health

Background:

• The choroid plays a crucial role in refractive error and various ocular diseases.
• Understanding choroidal thickness variations is vital for eye health assessments, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate choroidal thickness profiles in visually normal Australian Indigenous children.
• To compare choroidal thickness between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children in rural Queensland.

Main Methods:

• Enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used to assess choroidal thickness.
• The study included 250 children (100 Indigenous Australians) from rural Queensland schools.
• Measurements were taken across the central 5 mm macular region.

Main Results:

• Indigenous children exhibited a significantly thicker subfoveal choroid (369 ± 75 µm) than non-Indigenous children (355 ± 73 µm).
• Choroidal thickness was significantly associated with age and axial length.
• Thicker choroids in Indigenous children were observed across the macula, with notable differences in nasal and inferonasal regions.

Conclusions:

• This study provides normative data for macular choroidal thickness in Indigenous Australian children.
• A thicker choroid in Indigenous children may influence susceptibility or protection against ocular conditions.
• These findings are crucial for clinical management of eye conditions in Australian Indigenous populations.