Are there any differences in the retina and optic nerve anatomies in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To compare different macular, peripapillary and papillary parameters between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and normotypical subjects.Methods: In this observational, prospective, case–control study a group of 50 subjects with ADHD were compared with a group of 50 normotypical subjects (controls). Both groups underwent a complete ophthalmological study and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements including thickness of the entire retina, inner and outer layers thickness at the macula using 1–3‐6 mm Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) grid, peripapillary nerve fibre layer (pRFNL) thickness and Bruch's membrane opening‐minimum rim width (BMO‐MRW) parameters. Both eyes, the right and the left one, were compared independently between both groups.Results: When analysing the macula, it was seen a diffuse thinning of complete retina, inner retina and outer retina presenting symmetrical thinning patterns in both eyes in ADHD. The thickness of all pRNFL sectors were also significantly reduced in both eyes in ADHD in all the quadrants. However, BMO‐MRW parameters did not show any differences in any eye between both groups.Conclusions: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is associated with a diffuse thinning of the entire retina, inner retina and outer retina, furthermore pRNFL was also significantly reduced in both eyes.