Effect of age and sex on retinal layer thickness and volume in normal eyes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of sex and age on the thickness of the retinal layer in normal eyes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Fifty healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 80 had their retinal layers measured using SD-OCT at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. Mean thickness and volume were measured for 9 retinal layers in the fovea, the pericentral ring, and the peripheral ring. The differences of sex- and age-related thickness and volume in each retinal layer were analyzed.The retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL) were thinnest in the fovea area, whereas the outer nuclear layer (ONL), photoreceptor layer (PHL), and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were thickest at similar locations. Mean thickness of the RNFL, GCL, IPL, and OPL was significantly greater in men than women. However, mean thickness of the ONL was greater in women than in men. When compared between patients < 30 years and > 60 years of age, the thickness and volume of peripheral RNFL, GCL, and pericentral and peripheral IPL were significantly larger in the younger group than the older group. Conversely, the thickness and volume of foveal INL and IR were larger in the older group than in the younger group.The thickness and volume of the retinal layer in normal eyes significantly vary depending on age and sex. These results should be considered when evaluating layer analysis in retinal disease.

Is the Retina a Mirror of the Aging Brain? Aging of Neural Retina Layers and Primary Visual Cortex Across the Lifespan

“…We also found evidence of IPL and INL reduction being in accordance with previous studies (Ooto et al, 2011;Demirkaya et al, 2013;Won et al, 2016). Evidence about how INL cells change with age and respond to different pathological conditions is scarce (Nag and Wadhwa, 2012).…”

“…Our measurement outcomes revealed that while some layers remained stable with age (RNFL, OPL, IS/OS, and RPE), others decreased (GCL, IPL, INL, ONL, and OPR), and only one of them appeared to be increased in terms of thickness (OS). In particular, our results demonstrated a GCL age-related thinning, similarly to other findings (Ooto et al, 2011;Demirkaya et al, 2013;Won et al, 2016). In fact, this layer seems to be one of the most prone to be affected by aging mechanisms, being in agreement a significant decline of the number of ganglion cells across age (Balazsi et al, 1984;Gao and Hollyfield, 1992;Harman et al, 2000;Kerrigan-Baumrind et al, 2000;Nag and Wadhwa, 2012).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to differentiate the retina in 10 distinct layers addressing the effect of aging on thickness. In the previous study of Won et al (2016) (only addressing the retina and not the cortex), nine retinal layers were individualized using the same algorithm as ours.…”

“…The study of Won et al (2016) addressed nine retinal layers and also found evidence of age-related morphologic changes. They compared a younger (<30) vs. an older group (>60) and found that the thickness and volume of peripheral retinal nuclear fiber layer (RNFL), GCL, and pericentral and peripheral IPL were superior in the first group, whereas the thickness and volume of foveal inner nuclear layer (INL) and inner retina (IR) were higher in the older group.…”

Interocular Symmetry and Repeatability of Foveal Outer Nuclear Layer Thickness in Congenital Achromatopsia

“…One limitation of our study is that the controls were significantly older than the ACHM population by an average of 4.03 years. Previous literature has conflicting reports of the effect age has on ONL measurements, with some reporting no significant changes, 36,37 some reporting thinning, 38 and some reporting thickening. 39,40 The controls used in this study were significantly older than the ACHM patients; however, if decreasing ONL thickness with age is assumed, then accounting for this within our study only would have further increased our significance of ONL thickness between the two groups.…”