Jorge Ruiz-Medrano1, Ignacio Flores-Moreno, Pablo Peña-García, Javier A Montero, Julián García-Feijóo, Jay S Duker, José M Ruiz-Moreno. 1. *Ophthalmology Unit, Clínico San Carlos University Hospital, Madrid, Spain; †Department of Ophthalmology, Castilla La Mancha University, Albacete, Spain; ‡Ophthalmology Unit, Pío del Río Hortega University Hospital, Valladolid, Spain; §New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and ¶Insituto Europeo de la Retina (IER) Baviera, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To study the changes in the choroidal layers thickness with age in a healthy population using swept-source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of a subgroup of eyes from a previous single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study. One hundred and sixty-nine healthy eyes were evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/25, spherical equivalent between ±3 diopters, and no systemic or ocular diseases. Two independent investigators determined the macular horizontal choroidal thickness (CT) and the Haller's layer thickness across a 9 mm line centered at the fovea. Subjects were divided into five age groups. RESULTS: Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 305.76 ± 80.59 μm (95% confidence interval: 294.85-319.33). Mean subfoveal thickness for Haller's layer was 215.47 ± 67.70 μm (95% confidence interval: 207.30-227.86) and mean subfoveal thickness for choriocapillaris plus Sattler's layer was 87.31 ± 40.40 μm (95% confidence interval: 83.38-95.65). No significant differences were found due to gender. Choroidal thickness profile was similar between groups with choroidal thickness and Haller's layer thickness decreasing with age (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Choroidal and Haller's layer thickness profiles are similar between different age groups. Age-related choroidal thinning is mostly at the expense of Haller's layer.
PURPOSE: To study the changes in the choroidal layers thickness with age in a healthy population using swept-source optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Retrospective data analysis of a subgroup of eyes from a previous single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study. One hundred and sixty-nine healthy eyes were evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/25, spherical equivalent between ±3 diopters, and no systemic or ocular diseases. Two independent investigators determined the macular horizontal choroidal thickness (CT) and the Haller's layer thickness across a 9 mm line centered at the fovea. Subjects were divided into five age groups. RESULTS: Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 305.76 ± 80.59 μm (95% confidence interval: 294.85-319.33). Mean subfoveal thickness for Haller's layer was 215.47 ± 67.70 μm (95% confidence interval: 207.30-227.86) and mean subfoveal thickness for choriocapillaris plus Sattler's layer was 87.31 ± 40.40 μm (95% confidence interval: 83.38-95.65). No significant differences were found due to gender. Choroidal thickness profile was similar between groups with choroidal thickness and Haller's layer thickness decreasing with age (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Choroidal and Haller's layer thickness profiles are similar between different age groups. Age-related choroidal thinning is mostly at the expense of Haller's layer.