A comparative study on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with iron-deficiency anemia to normal population

Abstract

Aims: The aim is to study the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and compare with healthy controls. Settings and Design: This study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Medicine, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha. This was a cross-sectional, observational study. Subjects and Methods: Eighty patients with IDA, i.e., hemoglobin: 300 mic/dl and age- and sex-matched healthy individuals between 20 and 50 years of age were included in the study. All the cases and controls underwent detailed ophthalmic evaluation including optical coherence tomography (OCT). Hemoglobin, serum iron, serum transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, TIBC, and RNFL thickness by OCT were determined for both the groups and compared. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive and inferential statistics using Chi-square and students paired t-test. Analysis was done using the SPSS software (version 17.0) and GraphPad Prism 5.0 version software. Results: The RNFL thickness in all the four quadrants is lesser in patients of IDA. There is a positive correlation of RNFL thickness with hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin and negative correlation with TIBC. Conclusions: The difference in the average RNFL thickness in both the groups was statistically significant, with a decreased RNFL thickness in all the four quadrants was observed in the patients with IDA. It may greatly impact on the assessment and management of many ophthalmic disorders that affect RNFL thickness as glaucoma and other neuro-ophthalmological disorders.