To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness among normal children, glaucoma suspects, and children with glaucoma, using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Ninety-four eyes of 47 normal children, 62 eyes of 38 glaucoma suspects and 33 eyes of 21 children with glaucoma, from the ages of 5 to 15 years were examined at the Ophthalmology Center at the Inha University Hospital. The RNFL thickness was measured with OCT. Patient cooperation and signal strength of the OCT scans were assessed. The mean, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal RNFL thicknesses were measured by OCT in all three groups.

After adjustment by refractive error, the RNFL thicknesses of the mean, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal areas were 110.8±10.1 µm, 140.1±17.5 µm, 134.1±14.8 µm, 79.9±14.5 µm, and 89.2±16.8 µm, respectively, in the normal group; 107.9±10.8 µm, 134.8±15.5 µm, 130.2±18.8 µm, 75.4±17.1 µm, and 91.2±18.7 µm, respectively, in the glaucoma suspect group; and 102.8±18.1 µm, 129.5±16.5 µm, 126.1±20.2 µm, 70.3±19.7 µm, and 85.1±16.9 µm, respectively, in the glaucoma patient group. There was a significant difference among the three groups in all locations except in the temporal area ( p =0.003).

RNFL thickness in children measured by OCT may be useful in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma in children.