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BMC Ophthalmology
Published in: BMC Ophthalmology 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Assessment of the effect of age on macular layer thickness in a healthy Chinese cohort using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

Authors: Qian Xu, Ying Li, Ying Cheng, Yi Qu

Published in: BMC Ophthalmology | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

To determine the effect of age on the thickness of individual retinal and choroidal vascular layers in the macula in an ophthalmologically healthy Chinese cohort by using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods

In all, 525 health eyes of 525 subjects were examined with SD-OCT. The instrument automatically obtained the regional retinal thickness of 8 layers. Subfoveal choroidal vascular layers’ thickness was measured using enhanced depth imaging mode. The correlation of age with layer thickness measurements was determined.

Results

No age-associated variation was found on retinal thickness (RT) in the fovea; however, the foveal thickness of outer nuclear layer (ONL), retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and vascular sublayers of the choroid decreased significantly with aging in this area (P < 0.05, respectively). Significant age-related reduction was seen in RT in the pericentral and peripheral rings (P < 0.05, respectively). The significant variation in thinning of the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, and ONL with aging is thought to be the main determinant of these results (P < 0.05, respectively). On the contrary, the RPE layout showed age-related thickening (P < 0.05, respectively) in the pericentral and peripheral regions.

Conclusions

The thickness of individual layers of the macula may be determinants of the age-related variations observed in the ophthalmologically healthy Chinese cohort, as assessed by SD-OCT examination.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Assessment of the effect of age on macular layer thickness in a healthy Chinese cohort using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography
Authors
Qian Xu
Ying Li
Ying Cheng
Yi Qu
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Ophthalmology / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2415
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-018-0842-y

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