Associations with Retinal Pigment Epithelium Thickness Measures in a Large Cohort

Wei²,

et al. 2019

Preprint

Background Diagnosis and follow-up of retinal diseases may be improved if the thickness of the various retinal layers, in addition to the total retinal thickness, is taken into account. Here we measured the thickness of the macular retinal layers in a population-based study group to assess the normative values and their associations. Methods Using spectral-domain optical coherence tomographic images, we measured the thickness of the macular retinal layers in participants of the population-based Beijing Eye Study without ocular diseases and without arterial hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Results The study included 384 subjects (mean age:60.0±8.0 years). In multivariable analysis, the thickness of the retinal layers in the foveal region, of all retinal layers except for the outer plexiform layer in the parafoveal area, and the thickness of the ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer and inner and outer nuclear layer in the perifoveal area decreased with older age (all P<0.05). Men as compared to women had higher thickness measurements of the photoreceptor layer and outer nuclear layer in all areas, and of all layers between the retinal nerve fiber layer and inner nuclear layer in the parafovea area. The associations between the macular retinal layers thickness and axial length were not consistent. The inner plexiform layer was thicker, and the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer were thinner, in the temporal areas than in the nasal areas, Conclusions The associations between decreasing thickness of most retinal layers with older age and the correlation of a higher thickness of some retinal layer layers with male gender may clinically be taken into account.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Macular Retinal Layer Thickness and Associated Factors. The Beijing Eye Study 2011

Wei²,

et al. 2019

Preprint

Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci.

“…GA is likely a consequence of the general RPE thinning occurring with advancing age as shown in a large cohort of about 70,000 individuals in the UK Biobank study. 22 The ancillary OCT-AREDS study indicated a 32% increase to the odds of developing GA for every 0.001 mm 3 increase in abnormal thinning of the RPE-drusen complex, offering a composite marker of drusen regression with RPE atrophy. 20 The literature regarding risk factors for GA is richer than that for CNV, and the results are more consistent.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prediction of Individual Disease Conversion in Early AMD Using Artificial Intelligence

Schmidt‐Erfurth

Waldstein

Klimscha

et al. 2018

165

140

Pathobiology of Aging & Age-related Diseases

“…These findings are in line with our observations in humans in vivo . The RPE-BM complex does not seem to increase outside of the foveal minimum and there may even be a decrease with age in the more peripheral areas of the macula [14,26]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of aging and lifestyle on photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium: cross-sectional study in a healthy Danish population

Harris

Subhi

Sørensen

2017

Photoreceptors and their supporting retinal pigment epithelium constitute the key functional parts of the retina. Here, a study was undertaken to show how aging and lifestyle factors affect the photoreceptor layer and the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch’s membrane complex (RPE-BM) in vivo in a healthy Danish population using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. This was a cross-sectional study of healthy humans aged ≥50 years. All participants were interviewed for medical history and lifestyle factors. Maculae of all participants were scanned using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. The thickness of the photoreceptor layer and the RPE-BM was measured on one eye from each participant. In 150 eyes of 150 participants, it was found that aging was associated with a decrease in the thickness of the photoreceptor layer (−0.143 μm/year, P = 0.031) and an increase in the thickness of the RPE-BM layer (0.100 μm/year, P = 0.029) at the foveal minimum. Regarding lifestyle factors, alcohol intake or BMI were not associated with any significant trend, but physical inactivity and smoking had effects on the photoreceptor layer (decreased thickness) and the RPE-BM layer (increased thickness) indicating an accelerated aging process of the macula. Taken together, aging affects photoreceptors and the RPE-BM, and these aging trends are accelerated in smokers and the physically inactive.