Influence of corneal power on circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head measurements by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

AIM: To evaluate the influence of corneal power on circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and optic nerve head (ONH) measurements by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

METHODS: Twenty-five eyes of 25 healthy participants (mean age 23.6±3.6y) were imaged by SD-OCT using horizontal raster scans. Disposable soft contact lenses of different powers (from -11 to +5 diopters including 0 diopter) were worn to induce 2-diopter changes in corneal power. Differences in the cpRNFL and ONH measurements per diopter of change in corneal power were analyzed.

RESULTS: As corneal power increased by 1 diopter, total and quadrant cpRNFL thicknesses, except for the nasal sector, decreased by --0.19 to -0.32 µm (P<0.01). Furthermore, the disc, cup, and rim areas decreased by -0.017, -0.007, and -0.015 mm(2), respectively (P<0.001); the cup and rim volumes decreased by -0.0013 and -0.006 mm(3), respectively (P<0.01); and the vertical and horizontal disc diameters decreased by -0.006 and -0.007 mm, respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: For more precise OCT imaging, the ocular magnification should be corrected by considering both the axial length and corneal power. However, the effect of corneal power changes on cpRNFL thickness and ONH topography are small when compare with those of the axial length.