Normative optical coherence tomography reference ranges of the optic nerve head, nerve fiber layer, and macula in healthy Saudi children.

OBJECTIVES: To use the Cirrus high-definition (HD)-OCT to establish normative data for the macula and optic disc in healthy Saudi children and to examine the effect of age and gender on these parameters.

METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Saudi Arabia from November 2022 to April 2023. The study involved 135 full-term and healthy Saudi children aged 4-18 years who were evaluated at the KAUH ophthalmology clinic. Detailed demographic and ocular disease history data were obtained from the patients' medical records. The main outcome measures of the study included measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, macular thickness, and optic nerve head (ONH).

RESULTS: The mean macular volume was 9.9 mm3 , the mean macular thickness was 275.9 μm, and the mean central subfield thickness was 240.6 μm. There was no significant association between age and the macular values, except for the superior inner macula. Boys had significantly thicker central macula than girls, while the RNFL quadrants were not different between age groups and genders. The mean values for RNFL thickness, disc area, rim area, and cup volume were 93.9 μm, 2 mm2 , 1.6 mm2 , and 0.3 mm3 , respectively. The vertical ratio of cup to disc was 0.4.

CONCLUSION: Normative values for macular and optic nerve measures among Saudi children were established using the Cirrus HD-OCT device to serve as a reference.