Quantitative Mapping of Posterior Eye Curvature in Children Using Distortion-Corrected OCT: Insights into Temporal Region Morphology.

PURPOSE

To explore the curvature distribution in the posterior eye among school-aged children using distortion-corrected widefield OCT and its relationship with biometric variables.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-eight children.

METHODS

A swept-source-OCT prototype system with a repetition rate of 400 kHz was used to capture widefield retinal OCT images with a field-of-view of 68 × 68 degrees. The acquired OCT images were corrected for distortion using ocular optical information obtained separately for each eye. The posterior eye curvature was represented by the Gaussian curvature which was derived from Bruch's membrane segmentation. The mean Gaussian curvature was assessed across 4 regions set centered on the fovea, considering axial length (AL), refractive error, age, and choroidal thickness (ChT). Additionally, we identified the entry site of the long posterior ciliary artery (LPCA) into the choroid.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Local curvature distribution in the posterior eye.

RESULTS

A total of 176 eyes were imaged, with 7 excluded due to low image quality. Analysis of 169 OCT images revealed bilateral symmetry in choroidal vascular patterns and posterior eye curvature. Significant correlations were noted between mean curvature and AL, refractive error, and ChT in the superior, macular, and inferior regions. However, the temporal region exhibited reversed correlation trends. A local maximum curvature point was commonly observed in the temporal region, potentially linked to the LPCA entry site.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided a quantitative analysis of posterior eye curvature in children, highlighting a local maximum curvature point in the temporal region. Interestingly, the relationships between mean curvature and biometric variables in the temporal region contradicted those in the other 3 regions. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate its origin and implications for ocular development.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.