Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Normal Iranian Children Measured with Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: This study aimed to measure the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using spectral‑domain optical coherence tomography (SD‑OCT) in normal Iranian children aged below 18 years. Methods: Peripapillary RNFL imaging was performed in the right eye of normal Iranian children aged below 18 years using Spectralis SD‑OCT (Heidelberg Engineering; Vista, CA). The effects of age, gender, cup‑to‑disc ratio, and spherical equivalent (SE) on global and sectoral RNFL thicknesses were evaluated. Results: A total of 115 eyes were imaged. Approximately 51 (44.3%) of the cases were female children. The mean age was 12.44 ± 2.52 years. The SE of refractive error was 0.39 ± 1.38 diopters (range: −3.00 to +4.5 D). The RNFL thickness measurements in the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants were 129.25 ± 14.52, 128.16 ± 13.46, 76.76 ± 10.58, and 69.58 ± 9.94 μm, respectively. The global RNFL thickness was 101.01 ± 7.74 μm. In both univariate and multiple regression analyses, SE was the only determinant of RNFL thickness (all P values < 0.05). Conclusion: OCT analysis can effectively measure RNFL thickness in children, and SE is the only determinant of RNFL thickness in normal Iranian patients aged below 18 years.