Authors: Huo Yanjiao, Guo Yan, Wang Huaizhou, Li lei, Cao Kai, Wang Ningli
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Objective
To investigate the change regularity and influencing factors of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) with age among adults.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was adopted.A total of 281 Chinese adults, aged between 21 and 90, were selected from working staff and retired staff of an institution who underwent routine physical examinations from June to October 2016 in Beijing Tongren Hospital.One eye of each subject was included in the study according to the random number table method.The subjects were divided into different age groups including 21-30 years group, 31-40 years group, 41-50 years group, 51-60 years group, 61-70 years group, 71-80 years group and 81-90 years group.The SFCT was measured at the fovea and at 500 μm, 1 000 μm and 2 000 μm nasal (N) and temporal (T) to fovea by high definition-optical coherence tomography.Multiple linear regression equation was used to analyze the influence of ages, gender, intraocular pressure (IOP), spherical equivalent (SE) and retinal thickness on SFCT.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University (No.TRECKY2016-012). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any examination.
Results
Mean SFCT of eligible 229 subjects (229 eyes) was (218.73±79.69)μm.Choroid became thinner gradually towards nasal and temporal part.There were significant differences in SFCT, N2 000, N1 000, N500, T500, T1 000 and T2 000 among all age groups (F=27.05, 22.85, 25.38, 29.11, 32.55, 29.22, 28.70, all at P<0.01). Choroidal thicknesses of all locations showed age-related linear decrease with a steep drop after 50 years old (R2ranged 0.35-0.47, all at P<0.01). SFCT was associated with SE (β=-10.07, P<0.01) and age (β=-2.43, P<0.01) but not related with gender (β=-19.69, P=0.057), foveal thickness (β=0.02, P=0.897) or IOP (β=-0.86, P=0.466).
Conclusions
SFCT shows an age related linear decrease with a steep decline after 50 years old, which was associated with aging and higher SE in myopia, but not related with gender, foveal thickness or IOP within the normal range.