Retinal Layer Segmentation In A Cohort Of Healthy Children Via Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background: High-resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows the detection of macular pathology and involvement of the optic nerve in a wide spectrum of diseases. For the differentiation of diseased and healthy status, normal values of retinal layer segmentation are critical. Yet, normative values mostly cover adult populations with only sparse data for paediatric cohorts. We present data of retinal layer characteristics via OCT in a healthy paediatric cohort.Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study screened 75 healthy children (male=42, female=33, range 4-17 years) without visual problems. OCT was performed with a peripapillary ring and macula scan protocol to determine paediatric normative values for routine parameters (peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (pRNFL), total macular volume (TMV), macular retinal thickness (RT)). The macula scan (6mm grid) was segmented using the device-inherent automated segmentation software (Heidelberg Eye Explorer) for retinal layers: RNFL, ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), outer nuclear layer (ONL) in 9 segments each and mean of the 9 segments.Results: We obtained OCT data of 72 children with mean age 12.49 years (standard deviation, SD, 2.18; minimum 3.93). Mean global pRNFL was 102.20 μm (SD 8.24), mean TMV 8.81 mm3 (0.30) and mean RT (all segments) 318.22 μm (10.19). Segmented macular retinal layer thicknesses (mean of all segments) were: RNFL 27.67 μm (2.14), GCL 41.94 μm (2.50), IPL 34.97 μm (2.10), INL 35.18 μm (2.15), OPL 29.06 μm (2.24), ONL 68.35 μm (6.20).Conclusion: The OCT is a useful non-invasive imaging technique for the examination of the retina in children with short duration, high imaging resolution and no known adverse effects. Normative values may serve as a comparator for different neuropaediatric disorders and are first presented with this study using an up-to-date and standardized OCT imaging technique.

Characteristic retinal atrophy pattern allows differentiation between pediatric MOGAD and MS after a single optic neuritis episode

“…To describe pattern of retinal changes after ON precisely, we also reported frequencies of significant atrophy in different pRNFL quadrants and macular sectors in every group, defined as a decrease below 2SD, compared to a group of age-matched healthy controls (N = 144, f:m 32:40, age 12.49 ± 2.18). Healthy controls have been investigated in St. Josef-Hospital Bochum previously and will be reported separately [21]. VEP latency delay was defined as 2SD below mean (105 ± 8 ms, cutoff: 121 ms).…”