OCT based macular thickness in a normal Indian pediatric population

Purpose: Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides high resolution cross-sectional images of the retina, vitreous humor, and optic nerve head with an axial resolution of 5 μm and a reproducibility of 1.6 μm. An integrated normative database is available only for adult subjects ≥18 years of age; the normal reference ranges of the macular thicknesses of pediatric subjects are not available. The purpose of this study was to determine the normal reference range of macular thickness of pediatric. Methods: A total of 340 eyes of 170 children 5-17 years of age were recruited for this study. Participants received a full ophthalmic examination including a vision assessment, cycloplegic refraction, fundus examination, intraocular pressure measurement, assessment of ocular motility, and alignment. Macular thickness measurements were obtained through dilated pupils using Cirrus HD-OCT. Results: The mean macular thickness was 114.88 ± 14.74 in the right eye and 113.99 ± 15.62 in the left eye (P = 0.589). On further evaluation, macular thickness was highest in the inner macula, followed by the outer macula and central fovea (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The normative data of macular thickness in pediatric subjects 5-17 years of age will help diagnose macular disorders.