Choroidal Thickness of the Papillomacular Region in Young Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize the choroidal thickness of the papillomacular region in young healthy individuals using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Papillary and macular SD-OCT scans were obtained using an enhanced depth imaging mode. Digital retinography was used to assess any overlapping areas and to determine the papillomacular region. Spearman's correlations were used to explore the relationship between the different regional choroidal thicknesses. Results: Sixty-three volunteers aged 21.6 ± 1.1 years were included. There was a significant asymmetry in choroidal thickness throughout the 10-mm length model (p < 0.001). While the choroid was shown to thicken as the distance from the optic disc increased (p < 0.001), each of the 500-µm blocks of the papillomacular region were significantly thinner than their nasal counterparts (p < 0.02 in all pairwise comparisons). Conclusion: In young healthy individuals, the choroid under the papillomacular region appears to be thinner than in other areas. These differences could relate to specificities of the retina overlying this region.