Determinants of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness measured by high-definition optical coherence tomography

• Published in: Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 2012-08, Vol.53 (9), p.5853-5859
• Main Authors: Koh, Victor T, Tham, Yih-Chung, Cheung, Carol Y, Wong, Wan-Ling, Baskaran, Mani, Saw, Seang-Mei, Wong, Tien Y, Aung, Tin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Axial Length, Eye; Female; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers; Optic Disk - anatomy & histology; Retinal Ganglion Cells - cytology; Tomography, Optical Coherence; Visual Acuity - physiology; Visual Field Tests; Visual Fields - physiology
• ISSN: 1552-5783; 1552-5783
• DOI: 10.1167/iovs.12-10414

To determine the distribution, variation, and determinants of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness in nonglaucomatous eyes measured by high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT). Six hundred twenty-three Chinese adults aged 40 to 80 years were consecutively recruited from a population-based study. All subjects underwent a standardized interview, ophthalmic examination, and automated perimetry. HD-OCT with macular cube protocol was used to measure the GC-IPL thickness. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between GC-IPL thickness with ocular and systemic factors. The mean (±SD) age of study subjects was 52.84 ± 6.14 years, 50.1% were male, and all subjects had normal visual fields with no signs of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect. The mean overall, minimum, superior, and inferior GC-IPL thicknesses were 82.78 ± 7.01 μm, 79.67 ± 9.17 μm, 83.30 ± 7.89 μm, and 80.16 ± 8.31 μm, respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, GC-IPL thickness was significantly associated with age (β = -0.202, P < 0.001), female sex (β = -2.367, P < 0.001), axial length (β = -1.279, P = 0.002), and mean peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (β = 0.337, P < 0.001). IOP, central corneal thickness, disc area, serum glucose level, and history of diabetes mellitus had no significant influence on GC-IPL thickness. Thinner GC-IPL was independently associated with older age, female sex, longer axial length, and thinner RNFL thickness. These factors should be taken into account when interpreting GC-IPL thickness measurements with HD-OCT for glaucoma assessment.