Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness determined by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in ophthalmologically normal eyes.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the peripapillary distribution of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) in normal eyes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and to study potentially related factors. METHODS In 7 institutes in Japan, RNFLT in 7 concentric peripapillary circles with diameters ranging from 2.2 to 4.0 mm were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in 251 ophthalmologically normal subjects. Multiple regression analysis for the association of RNFLT with sex, age, axial length, and disc area was performed. RESULTS Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreased linearly from 125 to 89 μm as the measurement diameter increased (P < .001, mixed linear model). Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness correlated with age in all diameters (partial correlation coefficient [PCC] = -0.40 to -0.32; P < .001) and negatively correlated with disc area in the 2 innermost circles but positively correlated in the 3 outermost circles (PCC = -0.30 to -0.22 and 0.17 to 0.20; P ≤ .005). Sex and axial length did not correlate with RNFLT (P > .08). The decay slope was smallest in the temporal and largest in the nasal and inferior quadrants (P < .001); positively correlated with disc area (PCC = 0.13 to 0.51; P ≤ .04); and negatively correlated with RNFLT (PCC = -0.51 to -0.15; P ≤ .01). CONCLUSIONS In normal Japanese eyes, RNFLT significantly correlated with age and disc area, but not with sex or axial length. Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness decreased linearly as the measurement diameter increased. The decay slope of RNFLT was steepest in the nasal and inferior quadrants and steeper in eyes with increased RNFLT or smaller optic discs.

[1]  G. Savini,et al.  Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurement by Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography: A Comparison Between Cirrus-HD OCT and RTVue in Healthy Eyes , 2010, Journal of glaucoma.

[2]  T. Schlote,et al.  Improved reproducibility of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements with the repeat-scan protocol using the Stratus OCT in normal and glaucomatous eyes , 2009, Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

[3]  Robert N Weinreb,et al.  Longitudinal variability of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer measurements. , 2008, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[4]  Veit Sturm,et al.  Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements using 3D fourier-domain OCT. , 2008, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[5]  A. Negi,et al.  Association of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measured by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography with disc size and axial length , 2008, British Journal of Ophthalmology.

[6]  P. Thomas,et al.  Comparative evaluation of optical coherence tomography in glaucomatous, ocular hypertensive and normal eyes. , 2007, Indian journal of ophthalmology.

[7]  G. Savini,et al.  The effect of scan diameter on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement using stratus optic coherence tomography. , 2007, Archives of ophthalmology.

[8]  C. Cheung,et al.  Optic disc measurements in myopia with optical coherence tomography and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. , 2007, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[9]  Maciej Wojtkowski,et al.  Peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness profile determined with high speed, ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography high-density scanning. , 2007, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[10]  Douglas R. Anderson,et al.  Determinants of normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by Stratus OCT. , 2007, Ophthalmology.

[11]  D. Greenfield,et al.  Scanning laser polarimetry with enhanced corneal compensation and optical coherence tomography in normal and glaucomatous eyes. , 2007, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[12]  J. G. Babu,et al.  Normal age-related decay of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. , 2007, Ophthalmology.

[13]  Samin Hong,et al.  Early glaucoma detection using the Humphrey Matrix Perimeter, GDx VCC, Stratus OCT, and retinal nerve fiber layer photography. , 2007, Ophthalmology.

[14]  C. Cheung,et al.  Retinal nerve fiber layer measurements in myopia: An optical coherence tomography study. , 2006, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[15]  R. D. Libera,et al.  Comparison of optic disk and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in nonglaucomatous and glaucomatous patients with high myopia. , 2006, American journal of ophthalmology.

[16]  G. Mcgwin,et al.  Discrimination between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes using quantitative imaging devices and subjective optic nerve head assessment. , 2006, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[17]  R. Bourne,et al.  Structure-function relationships using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, optical coherence tomography, and scanning laser polarimetry. , 2006, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[18]  S. K. Seah,et al.  Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness variations with myopia. , 2006, Ophthalmology.

[19]  Hiroshi Ishikawa,et al.  Retinal nerve fiber layer assessment using optical coherence tomography with active optic nerve head tracking. , 2006, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[20]  Mina Torres,et al.  Refractive error, ocular biometry, and lens opalescence in an adult population: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. , 2005, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[21]  J. Duker,et al.  Three-dimensional retinal imaging with high-speed ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography. , 2005, Ophthalmology.

[22]  Christopher Kai-shun Leung,et al.  Comparative study of retinal nerve fiber layer measurement by StratusOCT and GDx VCC, I: correlation analysis in glaucoma. , 2005, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[23]  R. Knighton,et al.  Reproducibility of retinal nerve fiber thickness measurements using the stratus OCT in normal and glaucomatous eyes. , 2005, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[24]  P. Carpineto,et al.  Custom Measurement of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Using STRATUS OCT in Normal Eyes , 2005, European journal of ophthalmology.

[25]  A. Neufeld,et al.  Marked Changes in Gene Expression of Optic Nerve Astrocytes Upon Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors , 2005 .

[26]  Robert N Weinreb,et al.  Comparability of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements of optical coherence tomography instruments. , 2005, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[27]  G. Savini,et al.  Correlation between retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and optic nerve head size: an optical coherence tomography study , 2005, British Journal of Ophthalmology.

[28]  Wing-Ho Yung,et al.  Comparison of macular and peripapillary measurements for the detection of glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography study. , 2005, Ophthalmology.

[29]  Rohit Varma,et al.  Optical tomography-measured retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal latinos. , 2003, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[30]  B. Alamouti,et al.  Retinal thickness decreases with age: an OCT study , 2003, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[31]  Makoto Nakamura,et al.  Evaluation of the Effect of Aging on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography , 2003, Ophthalmologica.

[32]  Robert N Weinreb,et al.  Fourier analysis of scanning laser polarimetry measurements with variable corneal compensation in glaucoma. , 2003, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[33]  Makoto Nakamura,et al.  Evaluation of the glaucomatous damage on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography. , 2003, American journal of ophthalmology.

[34]  K. So,et al.  Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurement by Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Suspects with Short-Wavelength Perimetry Abnormalities , 2003, Journal of glaucoma.

[35]  M. Orhan,et al.  Effect of peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy on GDx parameters in patients with degenerative myopia , 2002, Clinical & experimental ophthalmology.

[36]  A. Fercher,et al.  In vivo human retinal imaging by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography. , 2002, Journal of biomedical optics.

[37]  T. J. van den Berg,et al.  Retinal nerve fiber layer analysis: relationship between optical coherence tomography and red-free photography. , 2002, American journal of ophthalmology.

[38]  L. Zangwill,et al.  Detecting early glaucoma by assessment of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and visual function. , 2001, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[39]  Adrian L Jones,et al.  The Humphrey optical coherence tomography scanner: quantitative analysis and reproducibility study of the normal human retinal nerve fibre layer , 2001, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[40]  Y Ling,et al.  Optical coherence tomography in measuring retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal subjects and patients with open-angle glaucoma. , 2001, Chinese medical journal.

[41]  L. Zangwill,et al.  Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements by use of optical coherence tomography. , 2000, Ophthalmology.

[42]  Mauricio E Pons,et al.  Assessment of retinal nerve fiber layer internal reflectivity in eyes with and without glaucoma using optical coherence tomography. , 2000, Archives of ophthalmology.

[43]  H. Quigley,et al.  Number of ganglion cells in glaucoma eyes compared with threshold visual field tests in the same persons. , 2000, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[44]  Ş. Özdek,et al.  Scanning laser polarimetry in normal subjects and patients with myopia , 2000, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[45]  R Ritch,et al.  Optical coherence tomography and scanning laser polarimetry in normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes. , 2000, American journal of ophthalmology.

[46]  M. Shirakashi,et al.  Relationship between age and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in normal subjects. , 1999, Japanese journal of ophthalmology.

[47]  M. Shirakashi,et al.  Relation between size of optic disc and thickness of retinal nerve fibre layer in normal subjects , 1998, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[48]  F W Fitzke,et al.  Variation of nerve fibre layer thickness measurements with age and ethnicity by scanning laser polarimetry , 1997, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[49]  R Varma,et al.  Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal human eyes. , 1996, Ophthalmology.

[50]  J. Fujimoto,et al.  Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements using optical coherence tomography. , 1996, Ophthalmology.

[51]  H. Lemij,et al.  Measurement by nerve fiber analyzer of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal subjects and patients with ocular hypertension. , 1996, American journal of ophthalmology.

[52]  J G Fujimoto,et al.  Evaluation of focal defects of the nerve fiber layer using optical coherence tomography. , 1996, Ophthalmology.

[53]  G. Tomita,et al.  Evaluation of the Effect of Aging on the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Using Scanning Laser Polarimetry , 1995, Journal of glaucoma.

[54]  J. Jonas,et al.  Optic nerve fiber count and diameter of the retrobulbar optic nerve in normal and glaucomatous eyes , 1995, Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.

[55]  E A Swanson,et al.  Quantification of nerve fiber layer thickness in normal and glaucomatous eyes using optical coherence tomography. , 1995, Archives of ophthalmology.

[56]  L. Zangwill,et al.  Scanning laser polarimetry to measure the nerve fiber layer of normal and glaucomatous eyes. , 1995, American journal of ophthalmology.

[57]  J. Jonas,et al.  Human optic nerve fiber count and optic disc size. , 1992, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[58]  J. Jonas,et al.  Histomorphometry of the human optic nerve. , 1990, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[59]  M Schulzer,et al.  The normal human optic nerve. Axon count and axon diameter distribution. , 1989, Ophthalmology.

[60]  G. Dunkelberger,et al.  Retinal ganglion cell atrophy correlated with automated perimetry in human eyes with glaucoma. , 1989, American journal of ophthalmology.

[61]  W R Green,et al.  Chronic human glaucoma causing selectively greater loss of large optic nerve fibers. , 1988, Ophthalmology.

[62]  M Schulzer,et al.  The effect of age on the nerve fiber population of the human optic nerve. , 1984, American journal of ophthalmology.

[63]  G. Judisch.  Congenital Anomalies of the Optic Disc , 1983 .

[64]  H. Littmann.  [Determination of the real size of an object on the fundus of the living eye]. , 1982, Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde.

[65]  Balint Kovacs,et al.  Relationship between visual field sensitivity and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography. , 2007, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[66]  A. Sadun,et al.  Age-related decline of human optic nerve axon populations , 2006, AGE.

[67]  Anthony J Correnti,et al.  Optical coherence tomography measurement of macular and nerve fiber layer thickness in normal and glaucomatous human eyes. , 2003, Ophthalmology.

[68]  D. Greenfield,et al.  Peripapillary nerve fiber layer thickness measurement reproducibility using optical coherence tomography. , 2003, Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging : the official journal of the International Society for Imaging in the Eye.

[69]  Robert N Weinreb,et al.  Imaging of the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer: the effects of age, optic disc area, refractive error, and gender. , 2002, Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, image science, and vision.

[70]  T. Wong,et al.  Variations in ocular biometry in an adult Chinese population in Singapore: the Tanjong Pagar Survey. , 2001, Investigative ophthalmology & visual science.

[71]  L. Zangwill,et al.  The retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in ocular hypertensive, normal, and glaucomatous eyes with optical coherence tomography. , 2000, Archives of ophthalmology.

[72]  M. Shirakashi,et al.  [Relationship between age and thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in normal subjects]. , 1998, Nippon Ganka Gakkai zasshi.

[73]  E. Higginbotham,et al.  Larger optic nerve heads have more nerve fibers in normal monkey eyes. , 1992, Archives of ophthalmology.

[74]  Douglas R. Anderson.  Automated Static Perimetry , 1992 .

[75]  F. Mikelberg,et al.  Relation between optic nerve axon number and axon diameter to scleral canal area. , 1991, Ophthalmology.

[76]  H A Quigley,et al.  The effect of age on normal human optic nerve fiber number and diameter. , 1989, Ophthalmology.

[77]  H. Littmann.  [Determining the true size of an object on the fundus of the living eye]. , 1988, Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde.

[78]  W. Green,et al.  Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma. III. Quantitative correlation of nerve fiber loss and visual field defect in glaucoma, ischemic neuropathy, papilledema, and toxic neuropathy. , 1982, Archives of ophthalmology.