Choroidal Volume Variations During Childhood

PURPOSE. We analyzed choroidal volume (CV) variations during childhood using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, and evaluated its association with age, axial length (AXL), sex, weight, and height. METHODS. Imaging studies of the right eyes of 52 healthy children were reviewed and included in this study. Subjects underwent a complete ocular examination and AXL measurement, as well as a raster macular scan using the Heidelberg Spectralis device. The choroid was segmented manually. RESULTS. Subjects included 21 males and 31 females, with mean age of 9 years (range, 2-17 years) and mean AXL of 22.8 +/- 0.98 mm. Mean CV was 0.263 +/- 0.068 mm(3) for the foveal circle and 8.545 +/- 1.822 mm(3) for the total Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid. The CV of the nasal quadrant was significantly lower than all others (P < 0.001). Total and foveal CV showed significant negative correlation with AXL after adjustment for age (P < 0.001), and significant positive correlation with age after adjustment for AXL (P < 0.001). Total CV was correlated significantly with sex after adjusting for AXL (P = 0.01), while no correlations were found between total CV and height or weight. The CV increased by 0.214 mm(3) (2.5%) for every year, and decreased by 1.0 mm(3) (11.7%) for every millimeter of axial length. Regression analysis confirmed a trend of higher CV in females than in males (P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS. The CV increases with age during childhood, but decreases with AXL. This finding supports the hypothesis that the choroid grows progressively during childhood. Intersexual differences of CV also may be present.