[Determination of retinal thickness in relation to the age and axial length using optical coherence tomography].
OBJECTIVE
It is unknown whether the thickness of the retina depends on axial length or on age. We therefore used optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study this relationship.


METHODS
We recruited 159 subjects aged 13-92 years (205 eyes) without macular pathology. OCT measurements included three horizontal scans and one vertical scan through the fovea. Axial length was determined by an analog high-resolution biometric unit.


RESULTS
There was no correlation between retinal thickness and either axial length or age. Mean retinal thickness in the fovea was 142 +/- 18 microns. In the nasal retina thickness was significantly increased to 266 +/- 17 microns, compared to 249 +/- 18 microns in the temporal retina. Retinal thickness in subjects' two eyes was significantly correlated.


CONCLUSIONS
Since retinal thickness does not depend upon age or length of the eye, no corrections are necessary when analyzing pathological retinal thickening, such as in diabetic retinal disease.
Universitäts-Augenklinik Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 11, 97080 Würzburg.
W
W
Göbel
F
F
Hartmann
W
W
Haigis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*