Comparison of OCT Measurements between High Myopic and Low Myopic Children

• Published in: Optometry and vision science Vol. 90; no. 12; pp. 1473 - 1478
• Main Authors: Lim, Hyun-Taek, Chun, Bo Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Academy of Optometry 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Macula Lutea - pathology; Male; Myopia - diagnosis; Myopia, Degenerative - diagnosis; Nerve Fibers - pathology; Prospective Studies; Retinal Ganglion Cells - pathology; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity - physiology
• ISSN: 1040-5488; 1538-9235
• DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000086

PURPOSETo compare the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and total macular volume of high myopic eyes with those of low myopic eyes in children younger than 10 years. METHODSProspective, randomized, comparative study. Time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Stratus OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec) was performed on 15 children with high myopia (refractive error greater than or equal to −6.0 diopters [D], group 1) and 20 children with low myopia (0 less than refractive error from −0.25 to −3.0 D, group 2). Fast RNFL scan and a fast macular scan with OCT were performed in both groups. The authors compared the data between the two groups. RESULTSThe mean age of the patients with high myopia was 7.8 years and that of those with low myopia was 7.2 years. The mean overall thickness of the peripapillary RNFL was 100.8 μm in the high myopes and 110.5 μm in the low myopes. There was a statistically significant difference in the overall RNFL thickness between the two groups (p < 0.05). In addition, peripapillary RNFL thinning was especially prominent in the inferior quadrant in children with high myopia (p = 0.021). The mean values of macula thickness and volume for high myopes were also significantly smaller than the mean values for low myopes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONSThe inferior quadrant and the overall peripapillary RNFL were significantly thinner in high myopic children relative to low myopic children. High myopic children had significantly thinner macular thickness and lower macular volumes. These structural differences should be considered in the clinical assessment of high myopic children.