Retinal Thickness Analysis in Subjects with Different Refractive Conditions

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to evaluate a measure of retinal thinning at the posterior pole in eyes with increasing axial myopia. Methods: 129 eyes of 79 healthy persons with different refractive conditions were examined using a commercially available prototype of retinal thickness analyzer. Results: Increasing myopia has been found to be accompanied by bulbus elongation, and calculation of the values obtained with the instrument revealed a significant decrease in retinal thickness at the posterior pole in eyes with increasing axial myopia, i.e. 4.8 μm/spherical equivalent in the foveolar region and 6.6 μm/spherical equivalent in the other areas of the posterior pole. Conclusion: Our data show retinal thinning at the posterior pole in myopic eyes based for the very first time on in vivo measurements. Furthermore, our findings might influence measurement data for other purposes, if the degree of myopia is not taken into account.