Analysis of Factors Associated with Retinal Vascular Caliber in Normal Korean Subjects

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To measure the diameter of the retinal arterial and venous caliber of normal Korean subjects and evaluate the factors affecting these diameters. METHODS: Fundus photography was performed on 152 normal Korean subjects. Central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) were measured with a computer-based program (IVAN), and were used to investigate the relationship between the diameter and factors including age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking. RESULTS: Among the study subjects, the CRVE was 209.33 +/- 12.40 microm and the CRAE was 149.70 +/- 9.01 microm. The CRVE and CRAE decreased with increasing age in all study subjects (both p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In our study group, retinal vascular caliber of normal Korean subjects decreased with aging. Retinal vascular caliber was affected by gender and hypertension, but not by smoking and diabetes.