Optical coherence tomography is helpful in the diagnosis of foveal hypoplasia

Purpose: To investigate whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) is helpful in the diagnosis of foveal hypoplasia in children. Methods: Children with albinism and aniridia were examined with Stratus OCT 3 software 4.0.1 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA). A qualitative examination of the macular area was performed with a 128 A-scans/second-single-scan. Macular thickness was measured quantitatively with an automatic fast macular map protocol. The average thickness/volume of the macula was presented as numerical values and as a false colour code in nine modified early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) areas (A1-A9). A previously collected control group of children was used for comparison. Results: Macular thickness in 13 children with albinism and three children with aniridia was measured with OCT. Comparison with healthy children in the same population was performed. Patients with albinism and aniridia had significantly thicker central macula (A1) and foveola than children in the control group. Conclusion: OCT was found to be useful in the diagnosis of foveal hypoplasia in children.