Background/aims To study peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular thickness in amblyopia using high-definition spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to compare the results with available literature using the time-domain modality. Methods This was a prospective institutional study of patients ≥6 years of age with unilateral amblyopia (strabismic or anisometropic) and non-amblyopic anisometropia. RNFL and macular thicknesses were measured using SD-OCT and compared between fellow eyes. Results The mean age was 20 (±12) years; 45 patients had amblyopia: 14 strabismic and 31 anisometropic. 20 patients had non-amblyopic anisometropia. The mean macular thickness was significantly increased in the amblyopic (273.8 μm) vs fellow eyes (257.9 μm), p=0.001. This difference remained significant in the anisometropic group (p=0.002) but not the strabismic group. The mean RNFL thickness was similar in amblyopic (95.4 μm) and fellow eyes (94.0 μm). Similar results were obtained regardless of the level of visual acuity, age or refractive error. In the control group of non-amblyopic anisometropia, the interocular difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions Central macular thickness was significantly increased in anisometropic amblyopia using SD-OCT. Anisometropia alone did not produce such a difference, which points to a possible correlation between amblyopia and the development of the retinal layers.

The aim was to report normative values of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular parameters in children using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to perform correlations with age, refractive error and axial length.

Purpose To study macular morphology in amblyopic eyes using high-definition spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to compare the findings with fellow eyes. Methods This was a prospective institutional study of patients ≥6 years of age with unilateral amblyopia. Enhanced high-definition single line macular scans of amblyopic eyes were obtained using SD-OCT and compared with fellow eyes. Scans were evaluated qualitatively for structural differences. Central foveal thickness was measured and areas of the different retinal layers were computed within 500 µm from the foveal centre nasally and temporally. Results Forty-five patients with unilateral amblyopia were included: 25 with strabismic and 20 with anisometropic amblyopia with a mean age of 24.8 years. Qualitatively, the bulge in the inner segment/outer segment junction of the central fovea was noted to be attenuated or absent in 60% of amblyopic eyes compared with 29% of normal eyes, p=0.02. Also, amblyopic eyes demonstrated a shallow foveal pit compared with normal fellow eyes. Mean foveal thickness was significantly increased in amblyopic (228.56 µm) versus fellow eyes (221.72 µm), p=0.03. Upon exploring different retinal layers, the temporal inner nuclear layer area was increased (p=0.04) while the outer nuclear layer area was decreased (p=0.04) in amblyopic eyes compared with fellow eyes. Conclusions Using enhanced high-definition SD-OCT, amblyopic eyes demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in macular features, possibly representing signs of immaturity compared with normal fellow eyes.

Uveitis in the pediatric population is uncommon, accounting for 2 to 14% of all uveitis cases, yet resulting in significant ocular morbidity. A number of studies have focused on patterns and complications of uveitis in the pediatric age group (≤ 16 years). In this report, we studied children with uveitis syndromes focusing on demographics, anatomic distribution, etiologies, treatment, and complications. We additionally divided subjects into two age groups to look into any differential characteristics pertaining to the younger age group and the role of amblyopia as a cause of visual loss. Retrospective chart review of 80 eyes of 49 uveitis patients aged ≤16 years. Subjects were categorized by age of onset into visually immature (≤8 years) and visually mature group (> 8 years). Data compared between the two age groups included demographics, disease characteristics, visual outcomes and complications. Idiopathic uveitis was the most common diagnosis (51%). Anterior uveitis complications (posterior synechiae and band keratopathy) were more common in the younger group (p = 0.002 and p = 0.03 respectively) while posterior uveitis manifestations (vitreous haze and vasculitis) were more common in the older age group (p = 0.04 and p < 0.001 respectively). Amblyopia was the most common cause of vision loss in the visually immature versus cataract in the visually mature. Anterior uveitis and its complications were more common in visually immature group in our cohort. Amblyopia was identified as the main cause of visual loss in the younger population.

To report interocular differences in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), optic nerve head and macular parameters in children using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). This was an observational cross-sectional study including 108 healthy children aged 6-17 years with no ocular abnormality except refractive error. After a comprehensive eye exam and axial length measurement, RNFL, optic nerve and macular thickness measurements were performed using the Cirrus OCT machine. Right and left eyes were compared and interocular differences were computed. Subjects were also divided into two groups based on age (under or over 10 years of age). Main outcome measures were interocular differences and their correlations with age and gender. The study included 108 children, mean age 10.7 ± 3.1 years; significant interocular differences were observed in both macular and RNFL parameters. The macular thickness analysis revealed interocular differences in the outer nasal and outer inferior quadrants, with left eyes displaying larger values. With respect to RNFL parameters, right eyes displayed thicker nasal and temporal quadrants, and inferior clock hours; left eyes had a thicker superior quadrant. The older age group (>10 years) had more pronounced variation in interocular differences compared with the younger group with less mature visual systems. Normal variation in interocular symmetry exists. Our results can contribute to establishing a standard reference for interocular differences in OCT parameters in children aged 6-17 years using the Cirrus device.