{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T00:15:50Z","timestamp":1790381750207,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743379200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1743379200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int J Retin Vitr"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>To evaluate the significance of age and gender on macular retinal and choroidal thicknesses (RT and CT) and related vascular density (VD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in a wide spectrum of normal participants.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>This was a cross-sectional study of 435 eyes of 234 normal healthy children and adults aged 5\u201397 years old who performed macular 3\u2009\u00d7\u20093\u00a0mm scans using Optovue RTVue OCTA.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>A statistically meaningful relationship was detected between age and macular layered VD and RT parameters. The middle retinal thickness (MRT) experiences minimal alterations throughout the lifespan. The mean foveal superficial capillary plexus density (SVD), deep capillary plexus density (DVD), and parafoveal SVD had the most density between the 20\u201340 years and tended to decrease to lowest point by the seventies. Foveal choriocapillaris vascular density (CVD), parafoveal CVD and parafoveal DVD had a decreasing course during the life course. There was no significant difference in choroidal vascular index between age groups. FAZ revealed relatively insignificant minor changes across age groups. The male participants had higher VD than the female participants in all measured parameters, except for parafoveal DVD.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>\n          <jats:sec>\n            <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n            <jats:p>RT of different layers as well as the whole retina is known to be influenced by age while the MRT experiences minimal alterations throughout the lifespan. The VD of male participants exceeded that of female participants across all measured parameters, except parafoveal DVD. Differential retinal and choroidal vascular plexuses have different course during a man\u2019s life.<\/jats:p>\n          <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T14:06:46Z","timestamp":1743430006000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":13,"title":["Exploring the impact of age and gender on retinal and choroidal thickness and vascular densities: a comprehensive analysis"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Fariba","family":"Ghassemi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Morteza","family":"Karimi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Farhad","family":"Salari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kia","family":"Bayat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"619_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1097\/00004397-198102130-00003","volume":"21","author":"APPLE DJ","year":"1981","unstructured":"APPLE DJ. Anatomy and histopathology of the macular region. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1981;21(3):1\u20139.","journal-title":"Int Ophthalmol Clin"},{"issue":"10","key":"619_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3317","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm9103317","volume":"9","author":"A Palazon-Cabanes","year":"2020","unstructured":"Palazon-Cabanes A, Palazon-Cabanes B, Rubio-Velazquez E, Lopez-Bernal MD, Garcia-Medina JJ, Villegas-Perez MP. Normative database for all retinal layer thicknesses using SD-OCT posterior Pole algorithm and the effects of age, gender and axial lenght. J Clin Med. 2020;9(10):3317.","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"issue":"5035","key":"619_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1178","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1957169","volume":"254","author":"D Huang","year":"1991","unstructured":"Huang D, Swanson EA, Lin CP, Schuman JS, Stinson WG, Chang W, Hee MR, Flotte T, Gregory K, Puliafito CA, Fujimoto JG. Optical coherence tomography. Science. 1991;254(5035):1178\u201381.","journal-title":"Science"},{"issue":"5","key":"619_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"779","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajo.2012.05.004","volume":"154","author":"L Vajzovic","year":"2012","unstructured":"Vajzovic L, Hendrickson AE, O\u2019Connell RV, Clark LA, Tran-Viet D, Possin D, Chiu SJ, Farsiu S, Toth CA. Maturation of the human fovea: correlation of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings with histology. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012;154(5):779\u201389.","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"7","key":"619_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"899","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.87.7.899","volume":"87","author":"B Alamouti","year":"2003","unstructured":"Alamouti B, Funk J. Retinal thickness decreases with age: an OCT study. Br J Ophthalmol. 2003;87(7):899\u2013901.","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"3","key":"619_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1111\/aos.13337","volume":"95","author":"T von Hanno","year":"2017","unstructured":"von Hanno T, Lade AC, Mathiesen EB, Peto T, Nj\u00f8lstad I, Bertelsen G. Macular thickness in healthy eyes of adults (N\u2009=\u20094508) and relation to sex, age and refraction: the Troms\u00f8 Eye Study (2007\u20132008). Acta Ophthalmol. 2017;95(3):262\u20139.","journal-title":"Acta Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"2","key":"619_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1001\/archopht.124.2.193","volume":"124","author":"A Chan","year":"2006","unstructured":"Chan A, Duker JS, Ko TH, Fujimoto JG, Schuman JS. Normal macular thickness measurements in healthy eyes using Stratus optical coherence tomography. Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124(2):193\u20138.","journal-title":"Arch Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"5","key":"619_CR8","first-page":"1588","volume":"43","author":"H S\u00e1nchez-Tocino","year":"2002","unstructured":"S\u00e1nchez-Tocino H, Alvarez-Vidal A, Maldonado MJ, Moreno-Montan\u00e9s J, Garc\u00eda-Layana A. Retinal thickness study with optical coherence tomography in patients with diabetes. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002;43(5):1588\u201394.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"6","key":"619_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3893","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.14-14447","volume":"55","author":"S Sonoda","year":"2014","unstructured":"Sonoda S, Sakamoto T, Yamashita T, Shirasawa M, Uchino E, Terasaki H, Tomita M. Choroidal structure in normal eyes and after photodynamic therapy determined by binarization of optical coherence tomographic images. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014;55(6):3893\u20139.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"619_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2415-15-1","volume":"15","author":"J Wang","year":"2015","unstructured":"Wang J, Gao X, Huang W, Wang W, Chen S, Du S, Li X, Zhang X. Swept-source optical coherence tomography imaging of macular retinal and choroidal structures in healthy eyes. BMC Ophthalmol. 2015;15:1\u20130.","journal-title":"BMC Ophthalmol"},{"key":"619_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8769","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.11-8388","volume":"52","author":"S Ooto","year":"2011","unstructured":"Ooto S, Hangai M, Tomidokoro A, et al. Effects of age, sex, and axial length on the three-dimensional profile of normal macular layer structures. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52:8769\u201379.","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"619_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4934","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.13-11913","volume":"54","author":"N Demirkaya","year":"2013","unstructured":"Demirkaya N, van Dijk HW, van Schuppen SM, Abr\u00e0moff MD, Garvin MK, Sonka M, Schlingemann RO, Verbraak FD. Effect of age on individual retinal layer thickness in normal eyes as measured with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013;54:4934\u201340.","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"5","key":"619_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1034","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajo.2015.07.027","volume":"160","author":"R Bafiq","year":"2015","unstructured":"Bafiq R, Mathew R, Pearce E, Abdel-Hey A, Richardson M, Bailey T, Sivaprasad S. Age, sex, and ethnic variations in inner and outer retinal and choroidal thickness on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Am J Ophthalmol. 2015;160(5):1034\u201343.","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"12","key":"619_CR14","first-page":"3278","volume":"34","author":"CA Curcio","year":"1993","unstructured":"Curcio CA, Millican CL, Allen KA, Kalina RE. Aging of the human photoreceptor mosaic: evidence for selective vulnerability of rods in central retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993;34(12):3278\u201396.","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"619_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1448","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo.2007.131094","volume":"93","author":"U Eriksson","year":"2009","unstructured":"Eriksson U, Alm A. Macular thickness decreases with age in normal eyes: a study on the macular thickness map protocol in the Stratus OCT. Br J Ophthalmol. 2009;93:1448\u201352.","journal-title":"Br J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"619_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"450","DOI":"10.1007\/s10384-008-0538-6","volume":"52","author":"A Manassakorn","year":"2008","unstructured":"Manassakorn A, Chaidaroon W, Ausayakhun S, Aupapong S, Wattananikorn S. Normative database of retinal nerve fiber layer and macular retinal thickness in a Thai population. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2008;52:450\u20136.","journal-title":"Jpn J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"1","key":"619_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"61","DOI":"10.1016\/S0008-4182(04)80054-1","volume":"39","author":"C Cavallotti","year":"2004","unstructured":"Cavallotti C, Artico M, Pescosolido N, Leali FM, Feher J. Age-related changes in the human retina. Can J Ophthalmol. 2004;39(1):61\u20138.","journal-title":"Can J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"11","key":"619_CR18","first-page":"752","volume":"102","author":"J Ono","year":"1998","unstructured":"Ono J, Kimura T, Ishii R, Fujiki K, Kanai A. Relationship between the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the effect of aging in normal eyes. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1998;102(11):752\u20138.","journal-title":"Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi"},{"issue":"6","key":"619_CR19","first-page":"383","volume":"102","author":"S Funaki","year":"1998","unstructured":"Funaki S, Shirakashi M, Abe H. Relationship between age and thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer in normal subjects. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1998;102(6):383\u20138.","journal-title":"Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi"},{"issue":"1","key":"619_CR20","first-page":"1","volume":"33","author":"H Gao","year":"1992","unstructured":"Gao H, Hollyfield JG. Aging of the human retina. Differential loss of neurons and retinal pigment epithelial cells. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1992;33(1):1\u20137.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"1","key":"619_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1002\/cne.903000103","volume":"300","author":"CA Curcio","year":"1990","unstructured":"Curcio CA, Allen KA. Topography of ganglion cells in human retina. J Comp Neurol. 1990;300(1):5\u201325.","journal-title":"J Comp Neurol"},{"issue":"6","key":"619_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2668","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.07-1000","volume":"49","author":"PJ Kelty","year":"2008","unstructured":"Kelty PJ, Payne JF, Trivedi RH, Kelty J, Bowie EM, Burger BM. Macular thickness assessment in healthy eyes based on ethnicity using Stratus OCT optical coherence tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49(6):2668\u201372.","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"619_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"980","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0b013e3181a2c1a7","volume":"29","author":"J Huang","year":"2009","unstructured":"Huang J, Liu X, Wu Z, Xiao H, Dustin L, Sadda S. Macular thickness measurements in normal eyes with time-domain and fourier- domain optical coherence tomography. Retina. 2009;29:980\u20137.","journal-title":"Retina"},{"key":"619_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"470","DOI":"10.1111\/aos.12695","volume":"93","author":"A Molnar","year":"2015","unstructured":"Molnar A, Holmstr\u00f6m G, Larsson E. Macular thickness assessed with spectral domain OCT in a population-based study of children: normative data, repeatability and reproducibility and comparison with time domain OCT. Acta Ophthalmol. 2015;93:470\u20135.","journal-title":"Acta Ophthalmol"},{"key":"619_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"135","DOI":"10.5301\/ejo.5000665","volume":"26","author":"D P\u00e9rez-Garc\u00eda","year":"2016","unstructured":"P\u00e9rez-Garc\u00eda D, Iba\u00f1ez\u2010Alperte J, Rem\u00f3n L, Crist\u00f3bal J\u00c1, Sanchez\u2010Cano A, Pinilla I. Study of spectral\u2010domain optical coherence tomography in children: normal values and influence of age, sex, and refractive status. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2016;26:135\u201341.","journal-title":"Eur J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"8","key":"619_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0273001","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0273001","volume":"17","author":"F Salari","year":"2022","unstructured":"Salari F, Hatami V, Mohebbi M, Ghassemi F. Assessment of relationship between retinal perfusion and retina thickness in healthy children and adolescents. PLoS ONE. 2022;17(8):e0273001.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"issue":"6","key":"619_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"478","DOI":"10.3928\/23258160-20170601-06","volume":"48","author":"F Ghassemi","year":"2017","unstructured":"Ghassemi F, Fadakar K, Bazvand F, Mirshahi R, Mohebbi M, Sabour S. The quantitative measurements of vascular density and flow areas of macula using optical coherence tomography angiography in normal volunteers. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48(6):478\u201386.","journal-title":"Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina"},{"issue":"9","key":"619_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3804","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.17-21460","volume":"58","author":"Y Wei","year":"2017","unstructured":"Wei Y, Jiang H, Shi Y, Qu D, Gregori G, Zheng F, Rundek T, Wang J. Age-related alterations in the retinal microvasculature, microcirculation, and microstructure. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017;58(9):3804\u201317.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"619_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajo.2016.05.005","volume":"168","author":"Q Wang","year":"2016","unstructured":"Wang Q, Chan S, Yang JY, You B, Wang YX, Jonas JB, Wei WB. Vascular density in retina and choriocapillaris as measured by optical coherence tomography angiography. Am J Ophthalmol. 2016;168:95\u2013109.","journal-title":"Am J Ophthalmol"},{"issue":"5","key":"619_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3212","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.14-16270","volume":"56","author":"J Yu","year":"2015","unstructured":"Yu J, Jiang C, Wang X, Zhu L, Gu R, Xu H, Jia Y, Huang D, Sun X. Macular perfusion in healthy Chinese: an optical coherence tomography angiogram study. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015;56(5):3212\u20137.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"619_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"883","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm9030883","volume":"9","author":"SH Park","year":"2020","unstructured":"Park SH, Cho H, Hwang SJ, Jeon B, Seong M, Yeom H, Kang MH, Lim HW, Shin YU. Changes in the retinal microvasculature measured using optical coherence tomography angiography according to age. J Clin Med. 2020;9(3):883.","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"issue":"13","key":"619_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9555","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.11-8076","volume":"52","author":"X Ding","year":"2011","unstructured":"Ding X, Li J, Zeng J, Ma W, Liu R, Li T, Yu S, Tang S. Choroidal thickness in healthy Chinese subjects. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(13):9555\u201360.","journal-title":"Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"619_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1097\/00006982-200106000-00007","volume":"21","author":"YN Ito","year":"2001","unstructured":"Ito YN, Mori K, Young-Duvall J, Yoneya S. Aging changes of the choroidal dye filling pattern in indocyanine green angiography of normal subjects. Retina. 2001;21(3):237\u201342.","journal-title":"Retina"},{"issue":"6","key":"619_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1216","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0000000000002123","volume":"39","author":"E Borrelli","year":"2019","unstructured":"Borrelli E, Lonngi M, Balasubramanian S, Tepelus TC, Baghdasaryan E, Iafe NA, Pineles SL, Velez FG, Sarraf D, Sadda SR, Tsui I. Macular microvascular networks in healthy pediatric subjects. Retina. 2019;39(6):1216\u201324.","journal-title":"Retina"},{"issue":"9","key":"619_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"OCT211","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.15-18793","volume":"57","author":"F Coscas","year":"2016","unstructured":"Coscas F, Sellam A, Glacet-Bernard A, et al. Normative data for vascular density in superficial and deep capillary plexuses of healthy adults assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016;57(9):OCT211\u201323.","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"619_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"508","DOI":"10.1097\/IAE.0000000000001571","volume":"38","author":"J Ruiz-Medrano","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ruiz-Medrano J, Ruiz-Moreno JM, Goud A, Vupparaboina KK, Jana S, Chhablani J. Age-related changes in choroidal vascular density of healthy subjects based on image binarization of swept-source optical coherence tomography. Retina. 2018;38(3):508\u201315.","journal-title":"Retina"},{"issue":"1","key":"619_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"10810","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-67829-2","volume":"10","author":"L Nivison-Smith","year":"2020","unstructured":"Nivison-Smith L, Khandelwal N, Tong J, Mahajan S, Kalloniatis M, Agrawal R. Normal aging changes in the choroidal angioarchitecture of the macula. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):10810.","journal-title":"Sci Rep"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Retina and Vitreous"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]],"date-time":"2025-03-31T14:08:25Z","timestamp":1743430105000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journalretinavitreous.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["619"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s40942-024-00619-4","relation":{},"ISSN":["2056-9920"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2056-9920","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,31]]},"assertion":[{"value":"18 May 2024","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"9 December 2024","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"31 March 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This study was conducted under general approval from the Institutional Review Board of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Written informed consents were obtained and the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards were addressed.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Written informed consents were obtained from each participant.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"38"}}