title: Optic nerve morphology in normal children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To expand the normative database of pediatric eyes analyzed with the Optovue optical coherence tomography (OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a community-based, cross-sectional analysis, 77 healthy 5-year-old children were recruited from pediatric practices. No subject had any known ocular disorder. Their optic nerves were assessed using Optovue optical coherence tomography (OCT). Data were compared to the normative database obtained by Optovue for adults, ages 18-25, 40-45, and 55-60. Comparisons included thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC), and optic nerve head disk area, vertical (VCD) and horizontal (HCD) cup:disk ratios, and cup area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison to all adult age groups, the children's optic nerve heads were statistically less cupped (cup area, VCD, HCD), all with P values of <0.0003. No statistical difference was identified between the children and adults aged 18-25 and 40-45 with respect to RNFL or GCC. Both RNFL and GCC were thicker in the children compared to adults aged 55-60 (P < 0.003). Children's disk area's were marginally smaller than those of adults, the difference not reaching statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our OCT results demonstrate that young children's optic nerves are statistically less cupped than those of all normal adults. The children's RNFL and GCC are statistically thicker than those of adults aged 55-60.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York; Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Devang L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bhoiwala
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York. Electronic address: SimonJ@mail.amc.edu.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York; Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Preethi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raghu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York; Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Todani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York.
authors.forename: Sai B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gandham
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York; Glaucoma Consultants of the Capital Region in Slingerlands, New York.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; 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*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult