Sexual dimorphism of the adult human retina assessed by optical coherence tomography

When Sex Matters: Differences in the Central Nervous System as Imaged by OCT through the Retina

BACKGROUND

Retinal texture has gained momentum as a source of biomarkers of neurodegeneration, as it is sensitive to subtle differences in the central nervous system from texture analysis of the neuroretina. Sex differences in the retina structure, as detected by layer thickness measurements from optical coherence tomography (OCT) data, have been discussed in the literature. However, the effect of sex on retinal interocular differences in healthy adults has been overlooked and remains largely unreported.

METHODS

We computed mean value fundus images for the neuroretina layers as imaged by OCT of healthy individuals. Texture metrics were obtained from these images to assess whether women and men have the same retina texture characteristics in both eyes. Texture features were tested for group mean differences between the right and left eye.

RESULTS

Corrected texture differences exist only in the female group.

CONCLUSIONS

This work illustrates that the differences between the right and left eyes manifest differently in females and males. This further supports the need for tight control and minute analysis in studies where interocular asymmetry may be used as a disease biomarker, and the potential of texture analysis applied to OCT imaging to spot differences in the retina.

Sex differences in macular thickness of the retina in patients with psychosis spectrum disorders

INTRODUCTION

Imaging of retinal structure in psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) is a novel approach to studying effect of this illness class on CNS structure. Studies of optical coherence tomography (OCT) have revealed significant reductions in regarding: retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), macular thickness (MT), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) and macular volume (MV). Sex differences in retinal structure in PSD have not been previously explored.

METHODS

This cross-sectional pilot study included 81 participant of age matched patients and controls. There were no differences between genders regarding illness duration and antipsychotic daily dose in the patient group. SD-OCT assessed RNFL, GC-IPL, MT, MV, and optic nerve cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio. In order to assess the main effects of illness, sex, and illness × sex interaction on the retinal parameters, general linear model was performed.

RESULTS

Patients demonstrated abnormalities on all OCT indices. Effects of sex were observed for central subfield MT and C/D ratio, which were lower in females. An illness × sex interaction effect was observed for the left MT, indicating greater thinning in female patients.

CONCLUSION

Sex differences in OCT findings in PSD appear to be most prominent considering macular parameters. These preliminary data may have important implications for the valid interpretation of OCT findings as potential biomarkers for PSD.