Associations of Cone Density and Choroidal Thickness with Age: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the interrelationships among choroidal blood supply, photoreceptor structure, and visual function during normal aging using OCT and adaptive optics (AO).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: A total of 68 participants aged 20-70 years were included in this study.

METHODS

All enrolled participants underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, including best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, OCT, and AO fundus photography. Photoreceptor images captured by AO imaging were used to calculate the cone density. A choroidal thickness map was obtained from OCT images using a custom algorithm.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detailed analysis was performed for the differences and correlations among cone density, choroidal thickness, and age.

RESULTS

Compared with group 1 (G1, aged 20-34 years), the cone densities of group 3 (G3, aged 50-64 years) and group 4 (G4, aged 65-79 years) were significantly lower at 0.5 mm to 1.1 mm eccentricities (all P < 0.05). The mean ± standard deviation cone densities (×1000 cells/mm2) at 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.1 mm eccentricities were 27.86 ± 2.77, 22.43 ± 2.04, 18.91 ± 1.42, 16.95 ± 1.19 for G1, 25.33 ± 2.44, 21.52 ± 2.02, 18.86 ± 1.89, 17.05 ± 1.29 for G3, and 22.29 ± 2.10, 20.30 ± 2.05, 17.50 ± 1.67, 15.56 ± 1.45 for G4, respectively. The choroidal thicknesses of group2 (G2, aged 35∼49 years), G3, and G4 were significantly thinner (G2: 199.45 ± 15.87 μm, G3: 156.87 ± 13.45 μm,G4: 142.25 ± 20.98 μm, all P < 0.05) than G1 (222.20 ± 40.41 μm). The cone density at all eccentricities was significantly correlated with choroidal thickness (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The cones showed significant correlation with the choroid and age. Reduced choroidal thickness and older age were associated with lower cone density, highlighting the interdependent aging of vascular and structural parameters in age-related visual impairment.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: The author has no/the authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.