Subfoveal choroidal thickness in a general elderly population; Tehran geriatric eye study.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the distribution of subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and its associated demographic, ocular, and systemic factors in an elderly population. METHODS: This report is part of the Tehran Geriatric Eye Study (TGES); a population-based cross-sectional study that was conducted on the urban elderly population of Tehran, aged 60 years and above using multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling. Choroidal imaging was performed using Spectralis SD-OCT with enhanced depth imaging mode. RESULTS: The average SFCT was 265.3 ± 25.9 µm (95% CI 262.8-267.7) in the whole sample. According to the multiple generalized estimating equation (GEE) model, pseudophakia had a statistically significant direct relationship with SFCT (coefficient = 5.69), and history of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was significantly inversely related to SFCT (coefficient=-4.77). Moreover, there was a significant interaction between age and sex in the average SFCT so that with increasing age, the SFCT increased in men and decreased in women. CONCLUSION: The normal values of SFCT in the present study can be used as a reference database for clinical and research purposes. Age-sex interaction, pseudophakia, and history of CVA were significantly associated with SFCT in the elderly population. It is recommended that these factors be taken into account when interpreting SFCT data.