Abstract
Purpose: To obtain normal retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) measurements by scanning laser polarimetry in a local Hong Kong Chinese population and to identify the correlation of the measurements with age.
Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine normal Hong Kong Chinese volunteers of different ages were recruited for this study. RNFL values were measured using a Nerve Fibre Analyzer GDx (Laser Diagnostic Technologies, CA).
Results: Mean peripapillary RNFL measurements at the superior, inferior, temporal and nasal regions were 95.0 ± 15.6, 97.0 ± 16.3, 47.0 ± 9.0 and 43.9 ± 15.1 J-Lm respectively (mean ± SD). There was a highly significant negative correlation in average RNFL values with increasing age (∼1.9 μm per decade, p = 0.001). A significant negative correlation with increasing age was also identified in the RNFL values in all four regions and they decreased by similar amounts (p < 0.05). No correlation with age was observed for relative ratio parameters such as superior/nasal ratio, inferior/nasal ratio and max. modulation (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: RNFL values of the Hong Kong Chinese population appeared to decrease over time cross-sectionally. Since they decreased by similar amounts at four regions, use of relative ratio parameters for analysis has an advantage over absolute values, as they were not affected by age.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Weinreb RN, Shakiba S, Zangwill L . Scanning laser polarimetry to measure the nerve fiber layer of normal and glaucomatous eyes. Am J Ophthalmol 1994;119:627–36.
Tjon-Fo-Sang MJ, Jelle de Vries J, Lemij HG . Measurement by nerve fiber analyzer of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal subjects and patients with ocular hypertension. Am J Ophthalmol 1996;122:220–7.
Chi QM, Tomita G, Inazumi K, Hayakawa T, Ido T, Kitazawa Y . Evaluation of the effect of aging on the retinal nerve fiber thickness using scanning laser polarimetry. J Glaucoma 1995;4:406–13.
Tjon-Fo-Sang MJ, Lemij HG . Retinal nerve fiber layer measurements in normal black subjects as determined with scanning laser polarimetry. Ophthalmology 1998;105:78–81.
Poinoosawmy D, Fontana L, Wu JX, Fitzke FW, Hitchings RA . Variation of nerve fibre layer thickness measurements with age and ethnicity by scanning laser polarimetry. Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:350–4.
Weinreb RN, Shakiba S, Sample PA, Shahrokni S, Horn SV, Garden VS, et al. Association between quantitative nerve fiber layer measurement and visual field loss in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 1995;120:732–8.
Weinreb NR, Dreher AW, Coleman A, et al. Histopathologic validation of Fourier-ellipsometry measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Arch Ophthalmol 1990;108:557–60.
Mikelberg FS, Drance SM, Schulzer M, et al. Relation between optic nerve axon number and axon diameter to scleral canal area. Ophthalmology 1991;98:60–3.
Jonas JB, Schmidt AM, Miiller-Bergh JA, et al. Human optic nerve fiber count and optic disc size. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1992;33:2012–8.
Holld G, Siiveges I, Nagymihaly A, Vargha P . Scanning laser polarimetry of the retinal nerve fibre layer in primary open angle and capsular glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:857–61.
Tjon-Fo-Sang MJH, Roel van Strik R, Jelles de Vries, Lemij HG . Improved reproducibility of measurements with the nerve fiber analyzer. J Glaucoma 1997;6:203–11.
Varma R, Skaf M, Barron E . Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal human eyes. Ophthalmology 1996;103:2114–9.
Choplin NT, Lundy DC, Dreher AW . Differentiating patients with glaucoma from glaucoma suspects and normal subjects by nerve fiber layer assessment with scanning laser polarimetry. Ophthalmology 1998;105:2068–76.
Tjon-Fo-Sang MJ, Lemij HG . The sensitivity and specificity of nerve fiber layer measurements in glaucoma as determined with scanning laser polarimetry. Am J Ophthalmol 1996;123:62–9.
Lee VW, Mok KH . Retinal nerve fiber layer measurement by nerve fiber analyzer in normal subjects and glaucoma patients. Ophthalmology 1998;106:1006–8.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wing-Hong Lee, V., Hei Mok, K. Nerve fibre layer measurement of the Hong Kong Chinese population by scanning laser polarimetry. Eye 14, 371–374 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2000.91
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2000.91