J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Mar;52(3):299-307. 10.3341/jkos.2011.52.3.299.

Macular Thickness Changes with Age and Gender in Emmetropia Using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

• Kim SH
• Choi KS
• Lee SJ

• KMID: 2214294
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.3.299

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the changes in macular thickness with regard to age and gender in normal subjects with emmetropia using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
METHODS
The present study consisted of 90 healthy subjects (162 eyes) with no ophthalmic evidence of retinopathy and who had emmetropic eyes. The data from macular measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography was analyzed according to the groups divided by age (Group 1: 0 to 19 years of age, Group 2: 20 to 39 years of age, Group 3: 40 to 59 years of age, Group 4: 60 to 80 years of age) and gender.
RESULTS
Macular thickness of the central circle was 253.40 +/- 23.03 microm in all subjects. There was no significant change with age (p > 0.05). However, the measurements at the inner (3 mm) and outer circle (6 mm) showed a reduction of macular thickness with age (p < 0.05). The macular thickness at the central and inner circle was significantly lower in the female subjects (p < 0.05). In group 3 and 4, macular thickness at the central circle in males was greater than in females. In group 3, the average inner macular thickness in males was significantly greater than in females (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
In normal subjects with emmetropia, there are statistically significant differences in macular thickness between subjects of different age and gender. The results from the present study can be expected to provide a reference value for evaluating macular disease.

Keyword

Age; Emmetropia; Gender; Macular thickness; Spectral domain optical coherence tomography

MeSH Terms

Emmetropia
Eye
Female
Humans
Male
Reference Values
Tomography, Optical Coherence

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. ETDRS subfields within standard 1, 3, and 6 mm diameter concentric circles on the right used for reporting retinal thickness. ETDRS = Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (F = fovea; SI = superior inner; NI = nasal inner; II = inferior inner; TI = temporal inner; SO = superior outer; NO = nasal outer; IO = inferior outer; TO = temporal outer).

• 

  Figure 2. Bar graph showing the changes in macular thickness by age group and gender. In group 3, the average inner macular thickness in males was significantly larger than in females. M = male; F = female. ∗ Statistically significant with paired t-test (p=0.05).

• 

  Figure 3. Scatter plots and regression line of the macular thickness (Central circle, Inner circle, Outer circle, Overall macula) and total macular volume against age.

Reference

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