OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY EVIDENCE ON THE CORRELATION OF CHOROIDAL THICKNESS AND AGE WITH VASCULARIZED RETINAL LAYERS IN NORMAL EYES.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate choroidal thickness (CT) and age with vascularized retinal layer and outer retinal layer thickness in normal eyes.


METHODS
This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. Complete ophthalmological examination, biometry, and enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography were performed. Choroidal and individual retinal layer thickness measurements were obtained. Thickness maps for all layers were evaluated using the 1 mm, 3 mm, and 6 mm early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) macular grid areas.


RESULTS
One hundred and twenty eyes were included. Choroidal thickness correlated negatively with age in all ETDRS areas. The ganglion cell layer (GCL) in the 1 mm; the GCL and inner plexiform layer (IPL) in the 3 mm and 6 mm; and the GCL, IPL, and inner nuclear layer in the 6 mm areas correlated negatively with age and positively with CT. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the 6 mm area correlated negatively with age. The retinal pigment epithelium-photoreceptor layer in all areas correlated negatively with age and positively with CT.


CONCLUSIONS
In normal subjects, vascularized retinal layer thicknesses and outer retinal layer thickness correlate positively with CT and negatively with age. The role of neuronal versus vascular components should be considered when evaluating individual retinal layer thicknesses.
*Ophthalmology Unit, DAI Testa/Collo, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, University of Rome "Sapienza," Viale del Policlinico, Rome, Italy; †Section of Ophthalmology, Department of Sense Organs, University of Rome "Sapienza," Viale del Policlinico, Rome, Italy; and ‡Ophthalmology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, NESMOS Department, University of Rome "Sapienza," Via di Grottarossa, Rome, Italy.
Solmaz
S
Abdolrahimzadeh
Francesco
F
Parisi
Vittorio
V
Scavella
Santi M
SM
Recupero
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002829:Choroid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult