Study on the Optic Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Changes in Blood Flow in Myopic Children

TaiNan Lin,1 Ling Su,2 JinHua Lin,1 Hong Qiu1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Fujian Provincial Governmental Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2School Health Department, Fujian Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: TaiNan LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, Fujian Provincial Governmental Hospital, No. 67 of Gupin Street, Gulou District, Fuzhou, 350003, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 591 88013047Fax +86 591 88013003Email lintainandr@163.comObjective: The present study aims to observe the optic nerve fiber layer thickness and blood flow density in the papillary area and investigate the effects of axial length (AL) and the refractive state of the optic papilla blood flow density in children with different refractive conditions.Methods: The present study was a clinical control study. The right eyes of 204 minors aged 6– 17 years were studied. The eyes were divided into four groups according to myopic refractive states. OCTA analyzed the data to compare the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) density and the difference in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness adjacent to the optic papilla between the four refraction groups.Results: The intra-optic disc blood flow density was significantly and negatively correlated with the AL and was negatively correlated with the AL in the inferior temporal quadrants. The RNFL in the superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants was negatively correlated with the AL. The RNFL in the temporal quadrant was positively correlated with the AL.Conclusion: Our present study revealed that aAs myopia increased and the AL grew in children, the blood density of the entire image of the optic papilla, in the optic disc, and the retinal capillaries in the inferior parapapillary and temporal quadrant would change significantly. With increasing AL, a significant decrease in the intra-disc and para-disc RNFL was observed in the superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants, while a substantial increase in RNFL was observed in the temporal quadrant.Keywords: myopic, optic nerve, fiber layer, blood flow, OCT