A cross-sectional study analyzing the correlation between the mean retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer thickness with axial length and refractive errors among children aged 5-15 years

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between the mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness with axial length and refractive errors among children aged 5-15 years. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study was done on 130 eyes of 65 consecutive subjects with refractive errors. The patients were evaluated for RNFL thickness and macular GCL thickness using spectral domain- optical coherence tomography. Results: One hundred and thirty eyes of 65 subjects aged between 5 and 15 years were divided into three groups based on their spherical equivalent in diopters (D). The children with a spherical equivalent of ≤−0.50 D were considered myopic, ≥−0.5 to ≤+0.5 D were considered emmetropic, and ≥+0.50 D were considered hypermetropic. RNFL thickness and GCL thickness were correlated with age, gender, spherical equivalent, and axial length. The mean global RNFL thickness was 104.58 μm ± 7.567. Conclusion: There exists a negative correlation between RNFL thickness and macular GCL thickness with increasing severity of myopia and increase in axial length, and the possible reason could be stretching of the sclera, which further leads to stretching of the retina, resulting in thinner RNFL and macular GCL thickness.