Associations with photoreceptor thickness measures in the UK Biobank
Authors: Chua Sharon Y. L. , Dhillon Baljean , Aslam Tariq , Balaskas Konstantinos , Yang Qi , Keane Pearse A. , Tufail Adnan , Reisman Charles , Foster Paul J. , Patel Praveen J. ,   UK Biobank Eye and Vision Consortium, Bishop Prof. Paul , Barman Prof. Sarah A. , Barrett Prof. Jenny H. , Blows Mr. Peter , Bunce Dr. Catey , Carare Dr. Roxana O. , Chakravarthy Prof. Usha , Chan Dr. Michelle , Crabb Prof. David P. , Cumberland Mrs Philippa M. , Day Dr. Alexander , Desai Dr. Parul , Sudlow Prof. Cathie , Dick Prof. Andrew D. , Egan Dr. Cathy , Ennis Prof. Sarah , Fruttiger Dr. Marcus , Gallacher Dr. John E. J. , Garway-Heath Prof. David F. , Gibson Dr. Jane , Gore Mr. Dan , Guggenheim Prof. Jeremy A. , Hammond Prof. Chris J. , Hardcastle Prof. Alison , Harding Prof. Simon P. , Hogg Dr. Ruth E. , Hysi Dr. Pirro , Khaw Prof. Sir Peng T. , Khawaja Dr. Anthony P. , Lascaratos Dr. Gerassimos , Lotery Prof. Andrew J. , Macgillivray Dr. Tom , Mackie Dr. Sarah , Martin Prof. Keith , Mcgaughey Ms. Michelle , Mcguinness Dr. Bernadette , Mckay Dr. Gareth J. , Mckibbin Mr. Martin , Mitry Dr. Danny , Moore Prof. Tony , Morgan Prof. James E. , Muthy Ms. Zaynah A. , O’Sullivan Mr. Eoin , Owen Dr. Chris G. , Paterson Mr. Euan , Peto Dr. Tunde , Petzold Dr. Axel , Rahi Prof. Jugnoo S. , Rudnicka Dr. Alicja R. , Self Dr. Jay , Sivaprasad Prof. Sobha , Steel Mr. David , Stratton Mrs Irene , Strouthidis Dr. Nicholas , Thaung Dr. Caroline , Thomas Dr. Dhanes , Trucco Prof. Emanuele , Vitart Dr. Veronique , Vernon Prof. Stephen A. , Viswanathan Dr. Ananth C. , Williams Dr. Cathy , Williams Dr. Katie , Woodside Prof. Jayne V. , Yates Dr. Max M. , Yip Dr. Jennifer , Zheng Dr. Yalin , Tapp Dr. Robyn 
Published: December 2019

Spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) provides high resolution images enabling identification of individual retinal layers. We included 32,923 participants aged 40–69 years old from UK Biobank. Questionnaires, physical examination, and eye examination including SD-OCT imaging were performed. SD OCT measured photoreceptor layer thickness includes photoreceptor layer thickness: inner nuclear layer-retinal pigment epithelium (INL-RPE) and the specific sublayers of the photoreceptor: inner nuclear layer-external limiting membrane (INL-ELM); external limiting membrane-inner segment outer segment (ELM-ISOS); and inner segment outer segment-retinal pigment epithelium (ISOS-RPE). In multivariate regression models, the total average INL-RPE was observed to be thinner in older aged, females, Black ethnicity, smokers, participants with higher systolic blood pressure, more negative refractive error, lower IOPcc and lower corneal hysteresis. The overall INL-ELM, ELM-ISOS and ISOS-RPE thickness was significantly associated with sex and race. Total average of INL-ELM thickness was additionally associated with age and refractive error, while ELM-ISOS was additionally associated with age, smoking status, SBP and refractive error; and ISOS-RPE was additionally associated with smoking status, IOPcc and corneal hysteresis. Hence, we found novel associations of ethnicity, smoking, systolic blood pressure, refraction, IOPcc and corneal hysteresis with photoreceptor thickness.