Retinal thickness evaluation in healthy eyes from north-west Punjab through optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT

To determine the mean retinal thickness in healthy eyes from north-west Punjab through commercially available optical coherence tomography [OCT] mapping software, version 3.0, from the Stratus OCT [OCT3]. Descriptive study. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawalpindi, from August 2008 to February 2009. One hundred and two eyes of 75 healthy north-west Punjabis, fulfilling inclusion criteria were enrolled from OPD of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital. After informed consent, demographic detail was taken. Best-corrected Snellen visual acuity was recorded. OCT was performed by using Stratus Carl Zeiss OCT through dilated pupil by an experienced operator. The retinal thickness was divided into 9 sections and displayed as three concentric circles including a central circle at fovea [1 mm], an inner ring [3 mm] and an outer ring [6 mm], each ring being divided into four quadrants. OCT parameters of macular thickness were analysed with baseline variables including age, gender and best corrected visual acuity. The mean central foveal thickness [at foveola] was 166.30 +/- 24.95 micro m while the mean foveal thickness [in central 1000 microns] was 194.89 +/- 21.33 micro m. There was no correlation between macular thickness and either age [r=0.109, p=0.275] or gender [Eta=0.128] or best corrected visual acuity [Eta=0.234]. Reference values were determined for mean retinal thickness in healthy eyes from north-west Punjab through OCT. These measurements were upto 54-micro m higher and upto 29 micro m lower than some previously reported healthy retinal thickness values. Therefore, normative database should be determined for the population under study based on regional and ethnic differences