To determine reference values for the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and macula in children 0–5 years of age.

Prospective cross-sectional study.

This study was set in a single large academic pediatric ophthalmology practice. Healthy, full-term children 0 to <6 years of age presenting for surgery under general anesthesia were prospectively recruited for participation. Excluded were children with systemic neurologic disease, optic nerve or retinal disease (even if unilateral) or any bilateral ocular disease process, and eyes with amblyopia, ocular disease, or spherical equivalent refractive error outside of −3.00 to +8.00 diopters. Following general anesthesia, OCT scans of the optic nerve and retina were acquired using an HRA+OCT Spectralis with Flex module (Heidelberg Engineering). Automated segmentation of the pRNFL and retinal layers was followed by manual correction.

Data were obtained from normal eyes of 57 participants (mean age 2.28 ± 1.50 years). Mean global pRNFL thickness was 107.6 ± 10.3 μm. Mean global pRNFL thickness was not dependent on age but showed a negative relationship with axial length (P = .01). The mean total macular volume was 8.56 ± 0.259 mm³ (n = 38). No relationship was found between total macular volume and age. Ganglion cell layer, ganglion cell complex, and inner nuclear layer volumes showed an inverse relationship with age while the photoreceptor layers showed a logarithmic increase with age.

Global pRNFL thickness measurements remain stable over time. Macular volume and thickness values of segmented retinal layers reflect the development of the macula with age.