Age effect on retina and optic disc normal values

Purpose: To investigate retinal thickness and optic disc parameters
by the Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA) glaucoma program in older
normal subjects and to determine any age effect. Methods: Subjects
over 40 years of age without any prior history of eye diseases were
recruited. Only subjects completely normal on clinical
ophthalmologic examination and on visual field testing by Humphrey
Field Analyzer (HFA) using the SITA 24-2 program were included. A
total of 74 eyes from 74 subjects with even age distribution over
the decades were enrolled and underwent topographic measurements of
the posterior pole and of the optic disc by RTA. The `glaucoma
full' program in software version 4.11B was applied. Results: Mean
patient age was 59.9 +/- 10.3 years with a range from 40 to 80
years. The only parameter intraocular pressure (IOP) correlated
with was retinal posterior pole asymmetry (r=0.27, p=0.02). IOP
itself increased significantly with age (r=0.341, p=0.003). Mean
defect and pattern standard deviation of the HFA did not correlate
with any of the retinal or optic disc measurements. Increasing age
correlated significantly with some of the morphologic measurements
of the RTA: decreasing perifoveal minimum thickness (r=-0.258,
p=0.026), increased cup-to-disc area ratio (r=0.302, p=0.016) and
increased cup area (r=0.338 p=0.007). Conclusions: An age effect
exists for some of the retina and optic disc measurements obtained
by the RTA. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.