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Article

Normative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Metrics of Macular Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone in Healthy Children

by
María Concepción Guirao-Navarro
1,2,
Pablo Viñeta-Garcia
3,
Javier Zarranz-Ventura
4,5,6,* and
Jesús Barrio-Barrio
3
1
Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, 30008 Murcia, Spain
2
Clínica Guirao, 30004 Murcia, Spain
3
Department of Ophthalmology, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
4
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
5
Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
6
Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(19), 6911; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196911
Submission received: 18 August 2025 / Revised: 11 September 2025 / Accepted: 19 September 2025 / Published: 29 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Ophthalmology)

Abstract

Background: Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enables non-invasive, high-resolution visualization of the retinal microvasculature and is increasingly utilized in pediatric ophthalmology. However, its clinical application in children is limited by the absence of age-specific normative data. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, macular vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area were assessed in 118 healthy Caucasian children aged 4 to 17 years. OCTA scans were obtained using the OCT Topcon Triton® device with 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm macular cubes. Vascular metrics from the superficial (SCP) and deep capillary plexuses (DCP) were analyzed in relation to demographic, refractive, biometric, and structural OCT parameters. Correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations. Results: Age-stratified reference percentiles for macular VD and FAZ area in SCP and DCP are presented for 118 children. Key associations included: (1) Increased macular thickness correlated with higher VD in the fovea and inner ring (SCP and DCP, all p < 0.05); (2) Thicker maculas were associated with smaller FAZ areas (SCP: r = −0.72, DCP: r = −0.58, both p < 0.001); (3) Older age was linked to reduced VD in the inner macular ring and smaller FAZ area (SCP and DCP, all p < 0.001); and (4) longer axial length correlated with lower central VD (SCP: r = −0.27, DCP: r = −0.37, both p < 0.05). No significant sex-based differences were observed. Conclusions: This study provides normative OCTA data for macular VD and FAZ area in healthy Caucasian children and identifies key associations with ocular parameters. These findings support improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision-making in pediatric retinal evaluation.
Keywords: OCTA; normative; database; pediatric; children; vessel density; perfusion density; foveal avascular zone; metrics; angiolytics OCTA; normative; database; pediatric; children; vessel density; perfusion density; foveal avascular zone; metrics; angiolytics

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MDPI and ACS Style

Guirao-Navarro, M.C.; Viñeta-Garcia, P.; Zarranz-Ventura, J.; Barrio-Barrio, J. Normative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Metrics of Macular Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone in Healthy Children. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 6911. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196911

AMA Style

Guirao-Navarro MC, Viñeta-Garcia P, Zarranz-Ventura J, Barrio-Barrio J. Normative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Metrics of Macular Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone in Healthy Children. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(19):6911. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196911

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guirao-Navarro, María Concepción, Pablo Viñeta-Garcia, Javier Zarranz-Ventura, and Jesús Barrio-Barrio. 2025. "Normative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Metrics of Macular Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone in Healthy Children" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 19: 6911. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196911

APA Style

Guirao-Navarro, M. C., Viñeta-Garcia, P., Zarranz-Ventura, J., & Barrio-Barrio, J. (2025). Normative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Metrics of Macular Vessel Density and Foveal Avascular Zone in Healthy Children. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(19), 6911. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196911

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