Age and Gender Effects on Subfoveal Choroidal Thickness in AMD
Yes, age significantly affects subfoveal choroidal thickness in AMD patients, with an inverse correlation demonstrated particularly in dry AMD, while gender effects are less clearly established in the available evidence.
Age-Related Effects
The relationship between age and choroidal thickness in AMD shows a clear pattern:
In dry AMD specifically, subfoveal choroidal thickness demonstrates a strong inverse correlation with age (r = -0.703; P = 0.002), meaning the choroid becomes progressively thinner as patients age 1.
Across all AMD stages, there is substantial variability in choroidal thickness (range 77.5 to 399.5 μm), with approximately one-third of AMD eyes measuring more than 1 standard deviation below the normal mean 1.
The progression of AMD itself correlates with decreasing subfoveal choroidal thickness: early AMD eyes show mean thickness of 293.8 ± 80.4 μm, intermediate AMD shows 215.6 ± 80.4 μm, and late AMD demonstrates 200.4 ± 66.6 μm, representing a statistically significant decline (P < 0.001) 2.
Gender Considerations
The evidence regarding gender effects is more limited:
While gender was included as an adjustment variable in comparative analyses between AMD subtypes, no specific gender-related correlations with choroidal thickness were reported as statistically significant 3.
The available studies adjusted for gender distribution when comparing different AMD phenotypes but did not report gender as an independent predictor of choroidal thickness changes 3.
Clinical Implications by AMD Subtype
Wet AMD versus Dry AMD:
Eyes with wet AMD demonstrate mean subfoveal choroidal thickness of 194.6 μm (SD 88.4) compared to 213.4 μm (SD 92.2) in dry AMD, though this difference was not the primary focus of correlation analysis 1.
Neovascular AMD shows progressive thinning over time, with statistically significant decrease from 181.2 ± 75 μm to 173.4 ± 63 μm over 6 months (P = 0.049) 4.
Important Caveats
Measurement variability must be considered when interpreting choroidal thickness changes:
Intraobserver coefficients of repeatability range from 15-29 μm in AMD eyes, while interobserver variability ranges from 24-36 μm 5.
This measurement variability is particularly relevant when tracking individual patients over time, as changes smaller than these thresholds may represent measurement error rather than true biological change 5.