[Features of macular ganglion cell complex in normal black subject in Lomé]

To determine the features of the macular ganglion cell complex and its correlations in normal black subjects in Lomé.

We conducted a descriptive, analytical, retrospective study over 32 months from November 2014 to June 2017. This study was based on records of healthy patients with normal IOP, optic discs and ganglion cell complexes (GCC). The 3D - OCT 2000 (Topcon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) was used with standard image acquisition protocols. RNFL and the GCC parameters were analyzed. Univariate linear regression tests were used, with the Pearson correlation coefficient (r²) to assess correlations between the various parameters.

A total of 277 eyes of 155 patients were examined - 146 right eyes and 131 left eyes. The mean age of the patients was 37.7±15.2 (5-60) years. The mean RNFL thickness was 108.3±7.1μm, 134.8±11.1μm in the lower quadrant, 128.3±13.8μm in the upper, 92.2±12.8μm in the nasal and 77.9±11.6μm in the temporal quadrant. There was 6% asymmetry in the macular fibers, with a mean thickness of 33.1±3.5μm superiorly and 35.3±3.8μm inferiorly. There was 2% asymmetry in the macular cells, with a mean thickness of 71.6±5.7μm superiorly and 70.5±5.2μm inferiorly. The macular GCC thickness showed 1% asymmetry, with a mean thickness of 105.0±7.1μm superiorly and 106.1±6.7μm inferiorly. The thickness of the superior macular GCC was strongly correlated with the inferior (r²=0.8; p <0.05). The thickness of the macular GCC was weakly correlated with age (r²=0.05; p =0.0003), gender (r²=0.01; p =0.2), optic nerve head surface area (r²=0.2; p < 0.05) and RNFL thickness (r²=0.15; p <0.05) CONCLUSION: The results of this study will help to establish a normative database for GCC parameters in normal black Africans.