Peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area and its association with other parameters in a Chinese population

Abstract Background Quantitative analysis of retinal nerve fibers is important for the diagnosis and treatment of optic nerve diseases. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) cross-sectional area may give a more accurate quantitative assessment of retinal nerve fibers than RNFL thickness but there have been no previous reports of the peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area or other parameters. The purpose of the current study was to determine peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area and its association with other factors in an adult Chinese population. Methods RNFL cross-sectional area was measured during peripapillary circular optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan with a diameter of 12° centered on the optic disc. Correlation between RNFL cross-sectional area and other parameters was evaluated by linear regression analysis in a cross-sectional study of an adult Chinese population. Results A total of 2404 eyes from 2404 subjects were examined. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that larger RNFL cross-sectional area correlated with younger age (p < 0.001), female gender (p = 0.001), no history of diabetes (p = 0.012) and larger optic disc area (p < 0.001). Conclusions Peripapillary RNFL cross-sectional area is correlated positively with optic disc area, suggesting that eyes with larger optic discs have thicker RNFL. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this correlation is due to differences in the numbers of retinal nerve fibers or other factors.