[Evaluation of the effect of aging on retinal nerve fiber thickness of normal Japanese measured by optical coherence tomography].

PURPOSE: To determine the normal retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to evaluate the relationship between RNFL thickness in healthy Japanese and their age. METHODS: One hundred healthy Japanese subjects were enrolled. The RNFL thickness was measured using OCT with three circle scans 3.4 mm in diameter. RESULT: The mean thickness of RNFL measured around the optic disc was 108 +/- 13.5 microm. The average RNFL thickness in the temporal, superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants was 80 +/- 15.9 microm, 132 +/- 20.7 microm, 80 +/- 17.0 microm and 136 +/- 20.0 microm, respectively. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between age and the average RNFL thickness around the disc, and in the temporal quadrant. Using 30-degree segments, there were negative correlations between age and RNFL thickness in temporal-superior and temporal-inferior segments. CONCLUSION: RNFL thickness in healthy Japanese subjects measured by OCT decreased with age in the temporal-superior and temporal-inferior quadrants. Our results suggested that the regional and age-related differences in RNFL thickness must be taken into consideration before making clinical interpretations of the RNFL abnormalities measured by OCT.