Retinochoroidal and Optic Nerve Head Microstructural and Microvascular Age-Related Changes in Healthy Eyes
Background: To investigate the retinochoroidal and optic nerve head (ONH) microstructural and microvascular age-related changes in healthy subjects by examining the ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer thickness (GC-IPLT), vessel density (VD), and their ratio. Methods: In this cross-sectional study,...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/5/572 |
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| Summary: | Background: To investigate the retinochoroidal and optic nerve head (ONH) microstructural and microvascular age-related changes in healthy subjects by examining the ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer thickness (GC-IPLT), vessel density (VD), and their ratio. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 203 subjects (20–69 years old) were divided into five age groups: 20–29 (G1), 30–39 (G2), 40–49 (G3), 50–59 (G4), and 60–69 (G5) (G5). Following a thorough ophthalmological examination, enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scanning was performed along with OCT angiography (OCTA) in a 6 × 6 mm<sup>2</sup> scanning area. Results: After adjusting for axial length the GC-IPLT varied significantly among groups, with thickness peaking in G3 (39.63 ± 1.14 µm) and then decreasing to the lowest in G5 (34.15 ± 5.93 µm) (<i>p</i> = 0.008). The whole, foveal, parafoveal, and perifoveal superficial and deep capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) VDs all varied significantly among groups, peaking in G2 and falling to their lowest in G5 (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant differences existed among groups regarding the GC-IPLT/whole SCP VD (<i>p</i> = 0.163) or GC-IPLT/whole DCP VD (<i>p</i> = 0.258) ratios. The foveal VDs in a 300-μm wide region surrounding the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) (FD-300) varied significantly among groups, peaking in G1 (57.06 ± 0.58) and dropping to its lowest in G5 (53.54 ± 0.59) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The choriocapillaris flow differed significantly among groups, peaking in G1 (20.39 ± 0.15 mm<sup>2</sup>) and dropping to its lowest in G5 (19.24 ± 0.16 mm<sup>2</sup>) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusions: The retinochoroidal microstructure and microvasculature ratios display an inverted U-shaped pattern with age, which could be linked to a considerably decreased GC-IPLT versus capillary plexus VDs with age, notably in subjects in their sixties. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-4418 |