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Distribution of scleral thickness and associated factors in 810 Chinese children and adolescents: a swept‐source optical coherence tomography study
Author(s) -
Deng Junjie,
Jin Jiali,
Lv Minzhi,
Jiang Wenhan,
Sun Sifei,
Yao Chunxia,
Zhu Jianfeng,
Zou Haidong,
Wang Ling,
He Xiangui,
Xu Xun
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13788
Subject(s) - choroid , sclera , ophthalmology , refractive error , optical coherence tomography , medicine , retina , refraction , retinal , optics , optometry , eye disease , physics
Purpose To explore the subfoveal thickness of sclera ( SST ), choroid ( SCT ) and retina ( SRT ) as well as their relationship in healthy Chinese children with varying levels of refractive error. Methods A total of 810 healthy Chinese schoolchildren and adolescents underwent a series of comprehensive ocular examinations, as well as swept‐source optical coherence tomography (OCT) after induced cycloplegia. The thicknesses of the sclera, choroid and retina below the central fovea were measured manually, and each measurement was compared across different refractive statuses. Independent factors associated with the thickness of each layer were analysed. Results The mean SST , SCT and SRT were 524 ± 57 μ m, 195 ± 49 μ m and 224 ± 19 μ m, respectively. The SST s and SCT s of myopes were significantly thinner than those of emmetropes and hyperopes (all p < 0.001). Although the choroid seemed to be thicker in hyperopes (225 ± 46 μ m) than in emmetropes (211 ± 45 μ m), no statistically significant difference was observed between emmetropes and hyperopes in the sclera and choroid. Thinner SST s and SCT s were associated with greater levels of myopia, whereas the SRT was similar in children with different myopic levels. SST (p < 0.001) and SCT (p = 0.003) as well as age (p < 0.001), sex (p < 0.001) and axial length (p < 0.001) were independently associated with spherical equivalent refraction ( SER ). Older age (p = 0.013), myopic‐shifted SER (p < 0.001), thicker SCT (p < 0.001) and thinner SRT (p = 0.012) were independently associated with a thinner SST . Conclusion The subfoveal sclera and choroid were thinner in myopes than in emmetropes and hyperopes, while the retina remains constant. Age, refractive error and choroidal and retinal thicknesses are related to subfoveal scleral thickness.