Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis with scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC) in normal children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the use of scanning laser polarimeter with variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC) in children; to compare GDx VCC parameters between normal children and adults; and, to evaluate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness variation with age in normals.


METHODS
Ninety-eight normal children (mean age 8.5+/-2.8 y; range: 3 to 17) and 96 normal adults (mean age of 47.0+/-20.4 y; range: 18 to 87) underwent GDx VCC testing. Eyes with small or large optic discs were excluded. The "extended parameter table" parameters and mean thickness values of the 4 quadrants and 64 sectors were considered. Differences between age groups, retinal thickness comparisons and age effect were assessed using unpaired t test, analysis of variance, and regression analysis.


RESULTS
GDx VCC parameters in children and adults showed wide intersubject variability. All parameters, excluding Symmetry, were significantly greater in children (P<0.05). TSNIT (temporal, superior, nasal, inferior, temporal) average, superior average and inferior average parameters showed a significant age-related thinning (P<0.01), at a rate of 0.043, 0.057, and 0.121 microm/y, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant age-related superior and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer thinning was found using GDx VCC. Considering the significant differences between children and adults for most GDx VCC parameters, the built-in adult normative database cannot be applied in children.
Department of Ophthalmology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Santa Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
Maria Letizia
ML
Salvetat
Marco
M
Zeppieri
Mirella
M
Felletti
Lucia
L
Parisi
Paolo
P
Brusini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057109:Scanning Laser Polarimetry; D055815:Young Adult