Bruch's Membrane Minimum Rim Width in a Normal Korean Population

Purpose: To identify determinants of Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO), and BMO–minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) centered on BMO center and characterize these parameters in a normal Korean population. Methods: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images of optic nerve head and circumpapillary and macular retina were obtained in 150 eyes of 150 normal Korean. Simple and multiple regression analysis was used to identify determinants including age, intraocular pressure, spherical equivalent, central corneal thickness, BMO area to the parameters. Results: There was significant correlation between age (r = -0.348, p < 0.001), spherical equivalent (r = -0.250, p = 0.002), BMO area (r = -0.481, p < 0.001), and global BMO-MRW. Circumpapillary RNFLT was negatively correlated to age (r = -0.216, p = 0.008). Multiple regression analysis showed that age and BMO area were significantly associated with global BMO-MRW (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that age was significantly associated with circumpapillary RNFLT (p = 0.028). Both global mean BMO-MRW and RNFLT declined with age at a rate of -1.019 μm/year and -0.135 μm/year. Conclusions: There was significant age-related loss of BMO-MRW and RNFLT in normal Korean population. Adjusting BMO-MRW and RNFLT for age is necessary for optimal diagnosis of glaucoma.