Thickness of retinal pigment epithelium–Bruch’s membrane complex in adult Chinese using optical coherence tomography

Purpose To study thickness of RPE–BM complex in adult Chinese subjects and its correlation with systemic and ocular biometric parameters. Design Population-based longitudinal study. Cross-sectional study. Participants The population-based Beijing Eye Study 2011 included 3468 individuals with a mean age of 64.6 ± 9.8 years (range: 50–93 years). Methods A detailed ophthalmic examination was performed including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) for measurement of the thickness of RPE–BM complex. Use Heidelberg software “Heidelberg Eye Explorer” for segmentation and measurements. Main outcome measure Thickness of RPE–BM complex. Results In total, 3276 people (6530 eyes) were included in the study. In total, 1844 (56.3%) subjects were female. The mean age was 64.3 ± 9.6 years (range: 50–93 years). The mean refractive error (spherical equivalent) was −0.18 ± 2.04 diopters (range: −22.0 to +7.50 diopters). Mean thickness of the RPE–BM complex at the foveal center was 25.09 ± 3.98 μm (range: 17–37 μm). In multiple regression analysis, subfoveal thickness of the RPE–BM complex was associated with age ( p = 0.039; beta: 0.22; B : 0.10 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.20)) and hypertension history ( p = 0.038; beta: 0.23; B : 1.96 (95% CI: 0.12, 3.81)). Conclusion Mean subfoveal thickness of the RPE–BM complex was 25.09 ± 3.98 μm in elderly subjects with a mean age of 64.3 years increased with age and hypertension history. The increase in the thickness of RPE–BM complex may play a role in the pathophysiologic features of various age-related ocular conditions.