Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy Demonstrates Pediatric Optic Disc and Peripapillary Strain During Horizontal Eye Rotation

<b>Purpose:</b> We employed automated analysis of scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) to determine if mechanical strains imposed on disc, and retinal and choroidal vessels during horizontal duction in children differ from those of adults. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty-one children aged 11.3 ± 2.7 (standard deviation) years underwent SLO in central gaze, and 35° ab- and adduction. Automated registration with deep learning-based optical flow analysis quantified vessel deformations as horizontal, vertical, shear, and equivalent strains. Choroidal vessel displacements in lightly pigmented fundi, and central disc vessel displacements, were also observed. <b>Results:</b> As in adults, strain in vessels during horizontal duction was greatest at the disc and decreased with distance from it. Strain in the pediatric disc was similar to published values in young adults,¹ but in the peripapillary region was greater and propagated significantly more peripherally to at least three disc radii from it. During adduction in children, the nasal disc was compressed and disc vessels distorted, but the temporal half experienced tensile strain, while peripapillary tissues were compressed. The pattern was similar but strains were less in abduction (<i>p</i> &lt; .001). Choroidal vessels were visualized in 24 of the 62 eyes and shifted directionally opposite overlying retinal vessels. <b>Conclusions:</b> Horizontal duction deforms the normal pediatric optic disc, central retinal vessels, peripapillary retina, and choroid, shearing the inner retina over the choroid. These mechanical effects occur at the sites of remodeling of the disc, sclera, and choroid associated with typical adult features that later emerge later, including optic cup enlargement, temporal disc tilting, and peripapillary atrophy.