Correlations of Optic Disc Morphological Parameters with Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness and Retinal Vessel Caliber Measurements

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the associations between the optic disc morphological parameters, peripapillary choroidal thickness, and retinal vessel caliber measurements. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study included 60 eyes of 60 healthy adults. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography was used to measure the retinal arteriolar caliber, retinal venular caliber, peripapillary choroidal thickness, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Optic disc morphological parameters were measured via Heidelberg Retinal Tomography 3. Results: The retinal arteriolar caliber was statistically significantly positively correlated with the rim volume (r = 0.27, P = 0.035) and RNFL cross-sectional area (r = 0.30, P = 0.02); but it was not associated with the other optic disc parameters (P > 0.05). The retinal venular caliber was not correlated with the optic disc parameters (P > 0.05). The peripapillary choroidal thickness was statistically significantly correlated only with the cup shape measurement (r = -0.27, P = 0.039), maximum contour elevation (r = 0.50, P < 0.001), and maximum contour depression (r = 0.28, P = 0.033). The RNFL thickness was statistically significantly positively correlated only with the disc area (r = 0.30, P = 0.019) and rim volume (r = 0.27, P = 0.039), and negatively correlated with the maximum contour elevation (r = -0.32, P = 0.012). Conclusions: Optic disc maximum contour elevation is positively correlated with the peripapillary choroidal thickness and negatively correlated with the RNFL thickness in the healthy eyes.