To investigate the shape of normal fovea in Korean subjects in their 20's using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

One hundred-twelve emmetropic eyes of 60 subjects and 100 myopic eyes of 58 subjects between 20 and 29 years of age were included in this study. Central foveal thickness (CFT), regional maximal retinal thickness (MRT), pit diameter, pit depth, and slope were obtained using Spectralis OCT and analyzed according to spherical equivalent and gender.

In emmetropic and myopic eyes, MRT was significantly thinner temporally ( p < 0.001) than in other regions and pit diameter was wider horizontally than vertically ( p < 0.001). The CFT was significantly thicker and all regional MRT was thinner in myopic eyes than in emmetropic eyes ( p < 0.001). Foveal pits were narrower and shallower in myopic eyes ( p < 0.001). In both groups, CFT and all regional MRT in males were significantly thicker than in females ( p < 0.05); however, no difference between the genders in horizontal pit diameter, pit depth, and slope were found.

In normal subjects, statistically significant differences were found in foveal shapes between subjects with different spherical equivalent and gender. These differences should be considered when interpreting a foveal shape. Knowledge of the normal foveal morphology is important when conducting further macular studies.