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Graefes Arch Clin Exp OphthalmolMay 201826 citations

The distribution of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and associations with age, refraction, and axial length: the Gutenberg health study.

Hoffmann Esther M, Schmidtmann Irene, Siouli Angeliki, Schuster Alexander K, Beutel Manfred E, Pfeiffer Norbert, Lamparter Julia


AI Summary

This study found pRNFL thickness decreases with age and longer eyes, but is independent of sex, IOP, or CCT, aiding glaucoma diagnosis interpretation.

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the distribution of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography and its associations with ocular parameters in a population-based setting.

Methods

In the population-based Gutenberg Health Study, 1974 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region were scheduled for ophthalmologic examinations, including visual acuity, refraction, tonometry, biometry, and measurements of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL) by optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany). The associated factors in the global and sectoral pRNFL data were analyzed using multivariable linear mixed models related to age, sex, and ocular parameters.

Results

Advanced age and longer axial length were associated with a thinner pRNFL, whereas pRNFL thickness was independent of sex, intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT). Spherical equivalent was positively associated with pRNFL thickness, except in the temporal pRNFL sector.

Conclusions

In this large, population-based study, pRNFL thickness decreased with age. Longer eyes had thinner pRNFL thickness. Sex, IOP, and CCT showed no significant association with pRNFL thickness. These data may improve the interpretation of pRNFL data.


MeSH Terms

AdultAge FactorsAgedAxial Length, EyeFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedNerve FibersPopulation SurveillanceProspective StudiesReference ValuesRefraction, OcularRetinal Ganglion CellsTomography, Optical Coherence

Key Concepts4

In a population-based Gutenberg Health Study of 1974 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region, advanced age was associated with a thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).

PrognosisCross-sectionalCross-sectional studyn=1974 subjectsCh5Ch10

In a population-based Gutenberg Health Study of 1974 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region, longer axial length was associated with a thinner peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).

PrognosisCross-sectionalCross-sectional studyn=1974 subjectsCh5Ch10

In a population-based Gutenberg Health Study of 1974 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness was independent of sex, intraocular pressure (IOP), and central corneal thickness (CCT) as measured by optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).

PrognosisCross-sectionalCross-sectional studyn=1974 subjectsCh5Ch10

In a population-based Gutenberg Health Study of 1974 subjects from the Mainz-Bingen region, spherical equivalent was positively associated with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness, except in the temporal pRNFL sector, as measured by optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT, Spectralis®, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany).

PrognosisCross-sectionalCross-sectional studyn=1974 subjectsCh5Ch10

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