Optical coherence tomography-based comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and macular thickness in amblyopic and fellow eyes

Abstract

Objectives The aim of the present study was to compare the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), macular thickness, and ganglion cell layer thickness between amblyopic and fellow eyes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Patients and methods Seventy-six patients were included in the study (32 males and 44 females; age range, 18–40 years; mean age, 27.21±8.25 years). Detailed medical history of all patients was obtained. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmologic and fundoscopic examination by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, visual acuity by Landolt’s chart, cycloplegic refraction, ocular alignment, applanation tonometry, and OCT imaging by spectral domain OCT (Cirrus-5000 OCT). Results There was no significant difference between the amblyopic and fellow eyes regarding central macular thickness, average macular thickness, or ganglion cell complex thickness. By further secondary analysis aiming to compare subgroups according to the refractive status, only the RNFLT was significantly lower in the amblyopic eyes compared with the fellow eyes in the myopic amblyopic subgroup only. Other OCT values were not significantly different in other amblyopic eyes versus fellow eyes in different subgroups. Conclusion There was no significant correlation between amblyopia and OCT parameters. However, OCT revealed a significant reduction in the mean RNFLT in myopic amblyopic eyes only compared with their fellow eyes. Axial length may be more influential than amblyopia.