Effects of Sex and Age on the Normal Retinal and Choroidal Structures on Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an essential tool in ophthalmology. Advances in OCT technology have made it possible to measure the thickness of the retina, specific retinal layers, and the choroid. In the present study, the body of the literature documenting the normal retinal and choroidal thickness are reviewed and the effects of sex, age, and axial length on retinal/choroidal thickness are discussed. Macular, retinal layer, and choroidal thickness measured on OCT images in normal eyes showed significant variations by sex and age. Macular retinal thickness was greater in men than in women, especially in the center, inner ring, and outer temporal ring areas as defined by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). Moreover, inner retinal thickness decreased with increasing age and choroidal thickness was greater in men than in women and was negatively correlated with age and axial length. These findings provide information that should be considered in analyses of retinal or choroidal thickness in OCT studies of retinal diseases and glaucoma.

• Age
• choroid
• optical coherence tomography
• retina
• sex

Declaration of interest

Masanori Hangai and Nagahisa Yoshimura are paid members of the advisory boards of Topcon and NIDEK. However, none of the authors has a proprietary interest in any products described in the manuscript.