Correlations of retinal thickness with frequency‐doubling technology perimetry in older healthy subjects

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate correlations of macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness with frequency‐doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in older healthy subjects. Methods The observational, transversal, and comparative study examined 65 healthy eyes of 33 young subjects (22.0 ± 2.1 years) and 32 older subjects (62.2 ± 3.9 years). All eyes underwent inner and outer macular‐segmentation (Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study macular regions) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (iVue SD‐OCT), and the FDT testing with N‐20 full‐threshold protocol. Results The fovea thickness decreased in the inner retina (p = 0.03), and increased in the outer retina (p = 0.025) in the older group. The inner macular‐segment of the 3 mm zone was thinner (p = 0.002) in the older subjects. The 5 mm zones of inner and outer macular‐segments and pRNFL thickness showed no significant differences with age. The FDT sensitivity was significantly lower in the older group, but the mean of mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were not significantly different between age groups. PSD values were within the normal limit range (0‐6 dB) in both groups. Only the PSD of FDT showed a significant negative correlation (R = ‐0.387, p = 0.028) with the outer macular‐segment thickness of the peripheral ring in older subjects. Conclusions The FDT pattern standard deviation increased as the outer macular‐segment thickness of peripheral ring decreased in healthy older subjects.