Choroidal and Retinal Thicknesses in Healthy Eyes Measured with Ultra-Wide-Field Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Ultra-wide-field optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) has been recently introduced into clinical ophthalmological practice. To date, there are few data on the reference values of the retinal thickness (RT) and choroidal thickness (CT) measured with this technique. This study aimed to analyze the variance in RT and CT in the healthy eyes of white Caucasian patients with UWF-OCT tests performed with the largest available scan size of 23 × 20 mm. The data were analyzed with reference to the patients’ age and gender and the axial length of the eyeball. The results of UWF-OCT scanning enabled us to visualize the shape of the retina and choroid in a large portion of the eyeball. Both anatomical entities became significantly thinner at the periphery. The peripheral CT was greater in the upper and temporal sectors; the RT was higher in the nasal compared to the temporal sectors. Both the choroid and retina showed a reduced thickness with age; however, the CT and RT did not show a statistically significant correlation with the axial length after adjusting for age and gender. Age-related variations in thickness were especially prominent in the choroid. The CT in UWF-OCT testing was significantly greater in females, while the RT was greater in males. UWF-OCT testing provides additional information on the anatomical structure of the retina and choroid compared to standard-field OCT.