Relationships of retinal vessel diameters with optic disc, macular and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in 6-year-old children

Abstract

PURPOSE. To describe the normal anatomic relationships of retinal vessel diameters with optic disc, macula, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in young children. METHODS. This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1204 healthy children 6 years of age who were participating in the Sydney Childhood Eye Study. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured from fundus photographs using standardized computer-based methods. Optical coherence tomography was performed to obtain measurements of the optic disc, macula, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters. RESULTS. In multivariate analyses, each standard deviation (SD) decrease in optic disc area was associated with a 0.14-pixel decrease (P = 0.05) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.31-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter. Each SD decrease in optic cup area was associated with a 0.15-pixel decrease (P = 0.05) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.43-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter. Each SD decrease in macular (inner/outer) thickness or volume was associated with a 0.25- to 0.39-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.36-to 0.71-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter, and each SD decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was associated with a 0.62-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.99-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter. CONCLUSIONS. Children's eyes with a smaller optic disc, thinner macula, and thinner retinal nerve fiber layer have narrower retinal vessels. These anatomic relationships may provide new insights into the vascular etiology of various ocular diseases. Copyright © Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.