Influence of Age, Gender, Refraction, Keratometry and Disc Area on the Topographic Parameters of the Optic Nerve Head

Overview

Optic nerve head (ONH) examination using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II was carried out in a study group of 39 healthy persons aged 42–79 years. Refraction and keratometry were measured by means of the autorefractometer. The following topographic parameters of the ONH were tested: disc area, rim area and cup area, cup/disc ratio, rim/disc ratio, rim volume, cup volume, mean and maximum cup depth, height variation contour, cup shape measure, mean RNFL thickness and RNFL cross sectional area.

Influence of gender on the topographic parameters of the ONH was not found. The age significantly influenced values of the disc area, rim area, rim volume and RNFL cross sectional area. Refraction significantly influenced the parameters disc area and rim area, keratometry significantly correlated with the disc area and cup shape measure. Disc area significantly influenced most parameters of the ONH (cup area, rim area, C/D ratio, R/D ratio, cup volume, rim volume, mean and maximum cup depth, cup shape measure, RNFL cross sectional area).

Our study showed that refraction, keratometry, age and disc area significantly influence many topographic parameters of the optic nerve head in the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph ONH analysis.

Key words:
Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, optic nerve head, topographic parameters, disc area, refraction, keratometry