title: [Evaluation of factors associated with variability in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in myopic juveniles aged 7-18 years].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT)measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and age, spherical equivalent (SE), axial length, and gender in myopic juveniles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study. One hundred and fifty-four juveniles (age range, 7-18 years) underwent ophthalmic examinations. Peripapillary Fast RNFL scans were performed by Stratus OCT with a nominal diameter of 3.46 mm centered on the optic disc on one randomly selected eye of each subject. Axial length was measured by A-ultrasound. The effects of several factors (age, SE, axial length, gender and eye) on RNFLT were investigated in univariate and multivariate stepwise regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean global RNFLT (x(-) ± s) was (114.106 ± 11.473) µm. The RNFLT was thickest superiorly (145.468 ± 19.064) µm and inferiorly (138.091 ± 20.464) µm, thinner temporally (94.396 ± 18.544) µm, and thinnest nasally (78.558 ± 16.981) µm. Both global and superior peripapillary RNFLT had no significant relationship with age (r = 0.129, 0.014; P > 0.05), SE (r = 0.006, 0.123; P > 0.05), axial length (r = -0.067, -0.141; P > 0.05), gender (r = -0.095, 0.025; P > 0.05) and laterality (r = -0.148, 0.095; P > 0.05). In multivariate stepwise regression analyses, there was significant inverse linear correlation between temporal RNFLT and SE (r = -0.465, P < 0.05). There was significant inverse linear correlation between nasal RNFLT and axial length and laterality (r = -0.327, P < 0.05). There was significant inverse linear correlation between inferior RNFLT and axial length (r = -0.276, P < 0.05), and direct linear correlation between inferior RNFLT and age (r = 0.276, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When we assess the RNFLT in myopic juveniles, we should consider the influence of age, refraction, axial length, spherical equivalent and laterality comprehensively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shenzhen Hospital, Beijing University, Shenzhen 518032, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: You-chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qiu-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012172:Retinaldehyde; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
chemical_list: D012172:Retinaldehyde