Inner retinal thickness and optic disc measurements in obese children and adolescents

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate optic nerve head parameters and inner retinal layer thicknesses in obese children and adolescents. Methods: Forty-one eyes of 41 pediatric obese participants and 41 eyes of 41 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Body mass index was calculated, based on sex and age, using body weight and height measurements. Blood lipid values (i.e., cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride) were measured in obese participants. Optical coherence tomography was used to examine optic nerve head parameters, including rim area, disc area, cup-to-disc ratio, and cup volume, as well as the thicknesses of retinal nerve fiber layers and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers. Results: Optic disc parameters were similar in obese and healthy children (p>0.05). The percentage of binocular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness symmetry was significantly different between obese and control groups (p=0.003). Compared to the control group, participants in the obese group exhibited thinner retinal nerve fiber layers in the superior quadrants (p=0.04) and thinner ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers in the superior-temporal sectors (p=0.04). There were no statistically significant correlations between the ocular parameters and lipid blood test values assessed in this study (p>0.05). Body mass index was significantly negatively correlated with the mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (r=-0.33, p=0.03) in the obese group. There was no significant correlation between intraocular pressure and body mass index (r=0.05, p=0.74). Conclusion: Compared to healthy children, obese children had greater binocular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness asymmetry and thinner retinal nerve fiber and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers in several sectors. Blood lipid levels were not associated with retinal thickness or optic disc parameters in obese children.

摘要
研究目的：本研究旨在评估肥胖儿童及青少年的视神经乳头（optic nerve head）参数与视网膜内层厚度。
方法：本研究共纳入41名肥胖儿科受试者的41只眼，以及41名年龄、性别匹配的健康对照者的41只眼。基于受试者性别与年龄，结合体重与身高测量值计算体重指数（Body Mass Index）。对肥胖受试者检测其血脂指标，包括胆固醇（cholesterol）、低密度脂蛋白（low-density lipoprotein）、高密度脂蛋白（high-density lipoprotein）及甘油三酯（triglyceride）。采用光学相干断层扫描（Optical Coherence Tomography）检测视神经乳头参数，包括边缘面积、视盘面积、杯盘比、视杯体积，以及视网膜神经纤维层与黄斑神经节细胞-内丛状层的厚度。
结果：肥胖儿童与健康儿童的视盘参数无显著差异（p>0.05）。肥胖组与对照组的双眼视网膜神经纤维层厚度对称性占比存在显著差异（p=0.003）。与对照组相比，肥胖组受试者的上方象限视网膜神经纤维层厚度更薄（p=0.04），颞上象限的神经节细胞-内丛状层厚度亦更薄（p=0.04）。本研究中检测的眼部参数与血脂检测值之间无统计学意义的相关性（p>0.05）。在肥胖组中，体重指数与视网膜神经纤维层平均厚度呈显著负相关（r=-0.33，p=0.03）。眼压（intraocular pressure）与体重指数之间无显著相关性（r=0.05，p=0.74）。
结论：与健康儿童相比，肥胖儿童的双眼视网膜神经纤维层厚度对称性更差，且多个象限的视网膜神经纤维层与神经节细胞-内丛状层厚度更薄。肥胖儿童的血脂水平与视网膜厚度或视盘参数无关联。