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

• Published in: Acta Ophthalmologica
• Main Authors: Geneid, Mohamed, Kettunen, Joonas, Nuuttila, Iida, Lintonen, Timo, Uusitalo, Janne‐Joonas, Saarela, Ville, Liinamaa, M. Johanna
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2018
• Subjects: Northern Finland
• 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

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.