View abstract

This abstract is assigned to session AOB FP

Title

Fractal dimension of the retinal vasculature: age-related evolution in the general population

Purpose	To investigate the age-related evolution of the fractal dimension (FD) of the retinal vascular network in a large cohort of healthy individuals with a wide age range.
Methods	A total of 838 disc-centered fundus images of 838 individuals (53% female and 47% male) were collected, aiming at approximately 100 subjects in every 10-year age group between 0 and 99 years. IFLEXIS, software for semi-automated retinal vessel analysis, was used for vessel segmentation and retinal vascular fractal analysis, using the box counting method. The region of interest (ROI) was the annulus between 1.5 and 5 times the radius of the optic disc, centered on the optic disc.
Results	A mean FD of 1.399 (± 0.038) was observed. A decreasing FD of the retinal vasculature was observed with aging , which was statistically significant (p < 0,0005). The mean values (± SD) of the FD per age group were 1.452 (± 0.045) in 0-9 years old, 1.421 (± 0.041) in 10-19 years, 1.399 (± 0.031) in 20-29 years, 1.396 (± 0.029) in 30-39 years, 1.395 (± 0.032) in 40-49 years, 1.393 (± 0.031) in 50-59 years, 1.387 (± 0.031) in 60-69 years, 1.389 (± 0.031) in 70-79 years, 1.383 (± 0.031) in 80-89 years and 1.370 (± 0.025) in the 90-99 years age group. FD was not significantly correlated with gender.
Conclusion	This study demonstrates that the retinal vasculature undergoes age-related rarefaction with age, which is already detectable at a young age.
Conflict of interest	No

Authors 1

Last name	LEMMENS
Initials	S
Department	KU Leuven, UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 2

Last name	Landtmeters
Initials	C
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 3

Last name	Peeters
Initials	R
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 4

Last name	Simons
Initials	AS
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 5

Last name	Vercauteren
Initials	J
Department	KU Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 6

Last name	Van Keer
Initials	K
Department	KU Leuven, UZ Leuven
City	Leuven

Authors 7

Last name	De Boever
Initials	P
Department	VITO
City	Mol

Authors 8

Last name	Stalmans
Initials	I
Department	KU Leuven, UZ Leuven
City	Leuven