Relationships of Retinal Vessel Diameters with Optic Disc, Macular and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Parameters in 6-year old Children
Ning Cheung 1*,
Son Huynh 2,
Jie Jin Wang 3,
Bronwen T Taylor 2,
FM Amirul Islam 3,
Seang-Mei Saw 4,
Tien Yin Wong 5,
and
Paul Mitchell 6
1 Ophthalmolgy, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2 Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
3 Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
4 Community, Occup. & Family Med., National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
5 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
6 Dept of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Eye Clinic, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: danicology{at}gmail.com.
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Abstract |
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Purpose: To describe the normal anatomical relationships of retinal vessel diameters with optic disc, macula, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in young children.
Methods: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1,204 healthy children aged 6 years participating in the Sydney Childhood Eye Study. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured from fundus photographs using standardized computer-based methods. Optical coherence tomography was performed to obtain measurements of the optic disc, macular, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters.
Results: In multivariate analysis, each standard deviation (SD) decrease in optic disc area was associated with 0.14 pixel decrease (p=0.05) in arteriolar diameter and 0.31 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in venular diameter; each SD decrease in optic cup area was associated with 0.15 pixel decrease (p=0.05) in arteriolar diameter and 0.43 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in venular diameter. Each SD decrease in macular thickness (inner/outer) or volume was associated with 0.25 to 0.39 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in arteriolar diameter and 0.36 to 0.71 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in venular diameter; and each SD decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer was associated with 0.62 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in arteriolar diameter and 0.99 pixel decrease (p<0.01) in venular diameter.
Conclusions: Eyes with smaller optic discs, thinner macula, and thinner retinal nerve fiber layer have narrower retinal vessels in children. These anatomical relationships may provide new insights into the vascular etiology of various ocular diseases.
Key Words:
retinal vascular caliber, glaucoma, optic neuropathy, optical coherence tomography, optic disc, retinopathy
