Relationship between retinal vessel diameter with both retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and optic nerve head parameters in middle‐aged Caucasians: the Northern Finland Birth Cohort Eye study
Abstract Purpose To study the normal relationship between retinal vessel diameter ( RVD ) with retinal nerve fibre layer ( RNFL ) thickness and optic nerve head ( ONH ) parameters in a cohort of middle‐aged Caucasians. Methods We investigated 3070 individuals (6140 eyes). Central retinal arteriolar...
Published in: | Acta Ophthalmologica |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2018
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aos.13992 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/aos.13992 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/aos.13992 |
Summary: | Abstract Purpose To study the normal relationship between retinal vessel diameter ( RVD ) with retinal nerve fibre layer ( RNFL ) thickness and optic nerve head ( ONH ) parameters in a cohort of middle‐aged Caucasians. Methods We investigated 3070 individuals (6140 eyes). Central retinal arteriolar equivalent ( CRAE ) and central retinal venular equivalent ( CRVE ) were measured in the right eye using a semi‐automated computer‐assisted program. Retinal nerve fibre layer ( RNFL ) thickness and ONH parameters were assessed with Heidelberg retinal tomography ( HRT ). Results Data from 2217 persons were analysed including RNFL , CRAE , CRVE , sex, body mass index, mean arterial pressure, diabetes status, smoking status, optic disc area, rim area, spherical refraction and intraocular pressure. A larger RVD was associated with a thicker mean global RNFL thickness especially in global and inferior segments of the retina and with larger optic discs. Each 10 μ m increase in the retinal arteriolar calibre was associated with a 5.58 μ m increase in mean global RNFL thickness; the corresponding value for a 10 μ m increase in venular calibre was 3.79 μ m (p < 0.001 for both). Retinal venular calibre displayed consistent associations with RNFL thickness in both genders (p < 0.001 for all), whereas the association of arteriolar calibre and RNFL was more prominent in men (p < 0.001). Conclusion We found strong associations between larger RVD and thicker RNFL in all subjects. This study helps to clarify the association between RVD , RNFL thickness and ONH parameters and provides normal values for middle‐aged Caucasians that will help in future studies investigating the role of vascular aetiology in systemic and eye diseases. |
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