Relation between cardiovascular conditions and macular and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness evaluated with Spectral‐Domain OCT

Abstract

PurposeTo detect changes in the macular and Retinal Nerve fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors or subclinical ischemiaMethods152 healthy men were evaluated. They underwent cardiovascular examination (including quantification of classic major risk factors, blood analysis and quantification of subclinical atheroma plaques by ultrasound scans) and a complete ophthalmic evaluation including evaluation with spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) registering macular and RNFL thicknessResultsSubjects without cardiovascular risk factors did not show higher macular or RNFL thicknesses than subjects with at least one risk factor. Subjects with subclinical atheroma plaques in the carotid artery showed significantly lower central macular thickness in the left eye compared to the right eye (p = 0.016). Subjects with atheroma plaques showed significantly reduced RNFL thickness in the superior quadrant (p = 0.044) and in the 2 o'clock sector (p = 0.014) compared to subjects without atheroma plaques. Smokers showed significant thinning in central macular thickness (p = 0.034), and also in the nasal RNFL quadrant (p = 0.006) and the 3 and 5 o'clock RNFL sectors (p = 0.016 and 0.009), compared to non‐smokersConclusionsSubjects with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by ultrasound scans showed reduced RNFL thickness in the superior quadrant. Smokers showed reduced central macular thickness and reduced RNFL thickness in the nasal quadrant. Macular and RNFL analysis with SD‐OCT could be a good biomarker of early axonal damage in subjects with cardiovascular conditions