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Modelling the normal retinal nerve fibre layer thickness as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography

  • Clinical Investigation
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The variation in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) in healthy subjects may be reduced when the effect on RNFLT measurements of factors other than disease is corrected for, and this may improve the diagnostic accuracy in glaucoma. With this perspective we evaluated the isolated and combined effects of factors potentially affecting the Stratus OCT RNFLT measurements in healthy subjects.

Methods

We included 178 healthy eyes of 178 subjects between 20 and 80 years of age. Participants underwent an extensive eye examination. Stratus OCT RNFLT was measured by three standard protocols, two with high and one with standard image resolution. Effects on RNFLT of age, gender, refractive error, axial length, lens nuclear colour and opalescence, intra-ocular pressure (IOP), and optic disc size were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Age, refractive error, axial length, and lens nuclear colour and opalescence affected RNFLT in univariate analyses, whereas gender, IOP, and optic disc size had no significant effect. In multivariate analyses only age in combination with refractive error, or with axial length, was significant and explained 14.7–17.6% (R 2) of the total variation of RNFLT, approximately 50% more than age alone. RNFLT decreased by 2.6–2.9 μm per increasing decade of age and increased by 1.5–1.8 μm per more positive diopter of spherical equivalent using full-circle measurements of the three standard protocols. These effects varied between measurement sectors.

Conclusions

RNFLT as measured by Stratus OCT standard protocols was significantly affected by age and refractive status. The effect on global RNFLT of a difference in refractive error of 10 diopters corresponded to the effect of a difference in age of 60 years. Theoretically, the effect of refractive status may be explained by artefacts of RNFLT measurement circle placement. The results suggest that the diagnostic accuracy of Stratus OCT may be improved by considering refractive status in addition to age when RNFLT is measured. For this purpose spherical equivalent seems as effective as axial length.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants K2005-74X-1426-13A and K2005-74BI-15375-01A from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet), by the Crown Princess Margareta Foundation for the Visually Handicapped (Stiftelsen Kronprinsessan Margaretas arbetsnämnd för synskadade), by the Margit and Kjell Stoltz Foundation (Margit och Kjell Stoltz´ fond), and by the Järnhardt Foundation (Järnhardts stiftelse).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, Ophthalmology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, 20502, Malmö, Sweden

    Jesper Leth Hougaard, Carl Ostenfeld, Anders Heijl & Boel Bengtsson

Authors
  1. Jesper Leth Hougaard
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  2. Carl Ostenfeld
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  3. Anders Heijl
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  4. Boel Bengtsson
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Correspondence to Jesper Leth Hougaard.

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Hougaard, J.L., Ostenfeld, C., Heijl, A. et al. Modelling the normal retinal nerve fibre layer thickness as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 244, 1607–1614 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0372-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-006-0372-9

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