Five‐year changes in macular thickness in the elderly population: A cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to determine the 5‐year changes in macular thickness and related factors.MethodsData were from the second (2014) and third (2019) phases of the Shahroud Eye Cohort Study. Examinations included measurement of uncorrected and best‐corrected visual acuity, non‐cycloplegic autorefraction, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy, and funduscopy. Participants underwent Cirrus HD‐OCT 4000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). imaging.ResultsThe 5‐year changes (95% confidence interval) of central and overall macular thicknesses were − 3.48 ± 8.16 μ (−3.92, −3.03) and − 0.79 ± 4.06 μ (−1.03, −0.54), respectively.The median and IQR of 5‐year changes in the central subfield thickness were −3 and 10, although they were 0 and 5 in the overall macular thickness, respectively. Multiple regression model showed the central macular thickness (CMT) decreased with a U‐shape pattern with increasing age. The 5‐year changes in CMT were significantly lower in females compared to males β = −1.55; (−2.78, −0.32) and in smokers compared to non‐smokers β = −1.92; (−3.55, −0.28). Moreover, higher body mass index β = −0.12; (−0.22, −0.02) and CMT at baseline β = −0.08; (−0.10, −0.06) were significantly associated with lower CMT changes. The average 5‐year changes in overall macular thickness showed a non‐linear decrease with age and was significantly higher in females β = 0.93; (0.4, 1.43). These changes were directly related to the anterior chamber depth β = 0.87; (0.10, 1.64) in the baseline.ConclusionsThe macular thickness decreased slightly after 5 years; however, this change is not clinically significant. Demographic factors such as age and sex and refractive errors were significantly related to macular thickness changes.