Quantification of Macular Perfusion in Healthy Children Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography

Abstract Background: Variations in vessel density (VD) patterns of the macula in children of different ages are unknown.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, subjects with normal eyes aged 3–18 years were enrolled. The macula was scanned by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Four age groups as under 7 years, 7-10 years, 11-14 years and more than 14 years of age were defined. The influences of age, gender, and body mass index on VD were analyzed.Results: A total of 108 normal eyes from 54 participants with a mean age of 10.9 years were enrolled in the study. At the superficial and deep retina capillary plexus (SCP and DCP) and choriocapillaris (CC), the mean VD of the fovea was 20.10%, 36.99%, and 75.67%, respectively; at parafovea, these measurements were 53.12%, 55.81%, and 69.76%, respectively; and at perifovea, these measures were 51.38%, 52.46%, and 73.47%, respectively. The median foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was 0.28 mm2. No significant differences were found between the superior-hemi and inferior-hemi VD of the studied plexuses. The VD at CC parafovea and perifovea differed significantly between groups. Neither age nor sex affected the VD of macular retina or CC. FAZ areas were different between genders.Conclusions: No difference between eyes and genders in the retina and CC VD of macular area was noted. FAZ area was larger in male. While this study is not a longitudinal study but may give us a hint for the macular vascular development during puberty and clinical applications of OCTA in children.