ANALYSIS OF AGE-RELATED CHOROIDAL LAYERS THINNING IN HEALTHY EYES USING SWEPT-SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY

Purpose: To study the changes in the choroidal layers thickness with age in a healthy population using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Methods: Retrospective data analysis of a subgroup of eyes from a previous single-center, prospective, cross-sectional, noninterventional study. One hundred and sixty-nine healthy eyes were evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity between 20/20 and 20/25, spherical equivalent between +/- 3 diopters, and no systemic or ocular diseases. Two independent investigators determined the macular horizontal choroidal thickness (CT) and the Haller's layer thickness across a 9 mm line centered at the fovea. Subjects were divided into five age groups. Results: Mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 305.76 +/- 80.59 mm (95% confidence interval: 294.85-319.33). Mean subfoveal thickness for Haller's layer was 215.47 +/- 67.70 mm (95% confidence interval: 207.30-227.86) and mean subfoveal thickness for choriocapillaris plus Sattler's layer was 87.31 +/- 40.40 mm (95% confidence interval: 83.38-95.65). No significant differences were found due to gender. Choroidal thickness profile was similar between groups with choroidal thickness and Haller's layer thickness decreasing with age (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Choroidal and Haller's layer thickness profiles are similar between different age groups. Age-related choroidal thinning is mostly at the expense of Haller's layer.