Normal Tomographic Papillary and Macular Parameters in Young Cameroonians Aged 6 to 20 Years

Introduction: Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a vital tool for diagnosing and monitoring retinal conditions. While OCT devices include normative databases for adults, such data is lacking for pediatric populations, especially those of Black African descent. This study aimed to describe the normal papillary and macular tomographic parameters in young Cameroonians. Methodology: This cross-sectional study, conducted from October 2022 to August 2023 in Yaoundé, included 314 Black African subjects (628 eyes) aged 6 to 20 years with no detectable ocular abnormalities. All participants underwent papillary OCT, macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) analysis and macular OCT examinations using a Topcon Maestro 3D device. Variables analyzed included age, sex, optic disc area, excavation area, Neuroretinal Rim (NRR) area, cup-to-disc (C/D) ratios, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, GCC thickness, Mean Macular Thickness (MMT) and central macular thickness. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26.0, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: The median age of participants was 13 years (9-16), with a male-to-female ratio of 0.6. The mean optic disc area was 2.35 ± 0.40 mm². The median excavation area was 0.14 mm² and the mean NRR area was 1.62 ± 0.36 mm². The median vertical C/D ratio was 0.60. The mean RNFL thickness was 119.4 ± 11 µm. The mean GCC thickness was 111.9 ± 6.7 µm. The mean macular thickness was 278 ± 13.8 µm and the central macular thickness was 172.2 ± 15.4 µm. The NRR area (r = -0.20; p = 0.001) significantly decreased with age. Mean RNFL thickness was significantly higher in females. There was no significant difference in MMT (p = 0.93) between sexes. Conclusion: The observed differences highlight the necessity for normative databases specific to ethnicity and OCT technology for accurate assessment of ocular diseases in this population.