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Updated: May 6, 2026
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Morphometric Analyses of Retinal Sections
Published on: February 19, 2012
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Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness, Maküler Thickness and Macular Volume in Children With Intellectual Disability
Umut Karaaslan1, Hatice Altun2, Ayşegül Çömez3
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Iskenderun State Hospital, İskenderun, Hatay, Turkey.
Summary
Children with intellectual disability (ID) showed reduced macular thickness, but retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness remained unchanged. These findings suggest potential links between retinal changes and brain abnormalities in ID.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.
- The retina and central nervous system share a common embryonic origin, suggesting potential shared developmental pathways and vulnerabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and macular volume in children with ID.
- To explore the relationship between these ocular parameters and cognitive function, assessed using the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 41 children with ID and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
- Ocular parameters (RNFL thickness, macular thickness, macular volume) were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
- Cognitive function was assessed using the WISC-R; sociodemographic and behavioral data were collected via questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Children with ID exhibited significantly lower central macular and mean macular thicknesses in the left eye compared to controls.
- While RNFL thickness was lower in all quadrants in the ID group, these differences were not statistically significant.
- Weak negative correlations were found between WISC-R scores and RNFL values in specific quadrants of the eyes in the patient group.
Conclusions:
- Reduced macular thickness in children with ID may be associated with underlying brain abnormalities.
- RNFL thickness did not show statistically significant changes in this cohort.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may hold potential as a diagnostic and monitoring tool for ID-related changes.
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