Clinical Optometry (Nov 2019)

Sub-Foveal Choroidal Thickness In Healthy Nepalese Population

  • Gyawali P,
  • Kharel Sitaula R,
  • Kharal A,
  • Bhusal A,
  • Paudel M,
  • Joshi SN

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 11
pp. 145 – 149

Abstract

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Parash Gyawali, Ranju Kharel Sitaula, Anish Kharal, Asmita Bhusal, Manisha Paudel, Sagun Narayan Joshi BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, NepalCorrespondence: Parash GyawaliBP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, NepalTel +97 798 4006 9980Email [email protected]: This study was conducted primarily to measure sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in healthy Nepalese population. Also, the correlation of SFCT with age, inter-eye difference of SFCT, inter-gender variation and inter-ethnic variation of SFCT was observed.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional, hospital based study in 162 participants (324 eyes) of six ethnic groups (Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, Tamang, Muslim, and Gurung) was conducted. The mean age of participants was 37.37 ± 15.02 years. All the participants underwent SFCT measurement using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (Spectralis HRA+OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) with the help of in-built caliber. Age, inter-gender, inter-eye and inter-ethnic differences in SFCT were recorded and analyzed.Results: The average SFCT of right eye (RE) and left eye (LE) was 307.98 ± 74.64 μm and 312.63 ± 76.90 μm respectively, with average SFCT of 310.31 ± 75.70 μm for both eyes. SFCT of only the RE was selected for further calculation due to insignificant inter-eye difference of SFCT (p = 0.128). There was a significant negative correlation of SFCT with age (r = −0.705, p = 0.01). A regression analysis showed thinning of SFCT by 3.50 ± 0.278 μm per year. In another context, SFCT of male and female was 305.49 ± 79.72 μm and 313.55 ± 70.76 μm respectively. However, there was no significant inter-gender difference (p = 0.51). Similarly, inter-ethnic variations of SFCT was also statistically non -significant (p = 0.74).Conclusion: SFCT was negatively correlated with the age of participants, implying a decrease in choroidal thickness (CT) with an increase in age. Age can be considered as an important factor in the measurement of SFCT. Gender and ethnic groups did not have a significant role in the measurement and comparison of SFCT.Keywords: sub-foveal choroidal thickness, enhanced depth imaging, optical coherence tomography, OCT, spectral domain, SD

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