Purpose: To describe the normal anatomic relationships of retinal vessel diameters with optic disc, macula, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in young children.
Methods: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 1204 healthy children 6 years of age who were participating in the Sydney Childhood Eye Study. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured from fundus photographs using standardized computer-based methods. Optical coherence tomography was performed to obtain measurements of the optic disc, macula, and retinal nerve fiber layer parameters.
Results: In multivariate analyses, each standard deviation (SD) decrease in optic disc area was associated with a 0.14-pixel decrease (P = 0.05) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.31-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter. Each SD decrease in optic cup area was associated with a 0.15-pixel decrease (P = 0.05) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.43-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter. Each SD decrease in macular (inner/outer) thickness or volume was associated with a 0.25- to 0.39-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.36- to 0.71-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter, and each SD decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was associated with a 0.62-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in arteriolar diameter and a 0.99-pixel decrease (P < 0.01) in venular diameter.
Conclusions: Children's eyes with a smaller optic disc, thinner macula, and thinner retinal nerve fiber layer have narrower retinal vessels. These anatomic relationships may provide new insights into the vascular etiology of various ocular diseases.