[Evaluation of the effect of aging on retinal nerve fiber thickness of normal Japanese measured by optical coherence tomography].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the normal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to evaluate the relationship between RNFL thickness in healthy Japanese and their age.


METHODS
One hundred healthy Japanese subjects were enrolled. The RNFL thickness was measured using OCT with three circle scans 3.4 mm in diameter.


RESULTS
The mean thickness of RNFL measured around the optic disc was 108 +/- 13.5 microm. The average RNFL thickness in the temporal, superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants was 80 +/- 15.9 microm, 132 +/- 20.7 microm, 80 +/- 17.0 microm and 136 +/- 20.0 microm, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between age and the average RNFL thickness around the disc, and in the temporal quadrant. Using 30-degree segments, there were negative correlations between age and RNFL thickness in temporal-superior and temporal-inferior segments.


CONCLUSIONS
RNFL thickness in healthy Japanese subjects measured by OCT decreased with age in the temporal-superior and temporal-inferior quadrants. Our results suggested that the regional and age-related differences in RNFL thickness must be taken into consideration before making clinical interpretations of the RNFL abnormalities measured by OCT.
Division of Ophthalmology, Tokyo National Hospital Organization, 3-1-1 Takeoka, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8585, Japan.
Hideyuki
H
Yamada
You
Y
Yamakawa
Mari
M
Chiba
Masato
M
Wakakura
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence