Effect of Axial Eye Length on Retinal Vessel Parameters in 6 to 12-Year-Old Malay Girls

Abstract

PurposeRetinal vessel analysis is affected by both systemic and ocular factors. Malays are the major ethnicity in South East Asia. Data on the retinal microvasculature in Malays is limited, especially among children. We aim to evaluate the influence of ocular biometry on retinal vessel parameters in young Malay girls.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study involving 86 Malay girls aged 6 to 12 years old in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from 2015–2016. Ocular examination, refraction, biometry, retinal photography, and anthropometric measurements were performed. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and overall fractal dimension (Df) were measured using validated computer-based methods (Singapore I vessel analyzer, SIVA version 3.0, Singapore). The associations of ocular biometry and CRAE, CRVE and Df were analyzed using multivariable analysis.ResultsThe mean CRAE, CRVE and Df in Malay girls were 171.40 (14.40) um, 248.02 (16.95) um and 1.42 (0.05) respectively. Each 1 mm increase in axial length was associated with a reduction of 4.25 um in the CRAE (p = 0.03) and a reduction of 0.02 in the Df (p = 0.02), after adjustment for age, blood pressure and body mass index. No association was observed between axial length and CRVE. Anterior chamber depth and corneal curvature had no association with CRAE, CRVE or Df.ConclusionAxial length affects retinal vessel measurements. Narrower retinal arterioles and reduced retinal fractal dimension were observed in Malay girls with longer axial lengths.

Comparison of retinal vascular geometry in obese and non-obese children

“…Independent t-test was used to determine the mean differences of numerical variables between obese and non-obese children. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed to determine the mean differences in dependent variables (i.e., caliber, Df, AVR, BC, sTORT, cTORT) between obese and non-obese children, with adjustment for possible confounding variables (i.e., age, gender, SBP, DBP and axial length) [ 36 ]. Several models were tested for each dependent variable with correction for confounding variables in ANCOVA; Model 1 was adjusted for age and gender, Model 2 was adjusted for age, gender, SBP and DBP, and Model 3 was adjusted for age, gender, SBP, DBP, and axial length.…”

Systematic Review on Fractal Dimension of the Retinal Vasculature in Neurodegeneration and Stroke: Assessment of a Potential Biomarker

“…The retinal microvasculature can be considered to be more dimensional than a line (1-dimensional), but less than a square (2-dimensional), hence a dimension between 1 and 2 can be attributed to this pattern with a higher number reflecting a more complex branching pattern. The retinal FD is associated with age (Azemin et al, 2012;Che Azemin et al, 2013;Wei et al, 2017), refractive error (Li et al, 2010Azemin et al, 2014;Yang et al, 2016;Al-Sheikh et al, 2017;Tai et al, 2017) and comorbidities (Avakian et al, 2002;Liew et al, 2008;Cheung et al, 2009Cheung et al, , 2011.…”

Quantitative retinal microvasculature in children using swept-source optical coherence tomography: the Hong Kong Children Eye Study

“…Therefore, children are ideal study populations for acquiring normative data and baseline morphology, and also in analysing the relationship between anatomico-physiological factors and retinal microvasculature 11. Little is known, however, about the distribution and variability of OCT-A metrics in children.…”