The effect of macular edema on the measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and the thickness of peripapillary retina

Abstract

PurposeWith advanced in accuracy and reproducibility of spectral domain optical coherent tomography, It issuggested that the serial changes of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness could reflect the progression of glaucoma. But, patient may have accompany disease that affect retinal structure such as diabetes, venular occlusive diasese and macular degenerative diasese. So, we investigated the factors that influence the measurement of RNFL and peripapillaryretina.MethodsIn this retrospective controlled case series, we reviewed the eyes with macular edema. Analyzed factorsassociated RNFL thickness and peripapillary retina ranging from 3 mm and 5 mm of optic disc included age, IOP, visualacuity, central macular thickness (CMT), central macular thickness changes and kinds comorbid diasese. All themeasured values were obtained at initial presentation and the presentation when macular edema was relieved. The RNFL thickness and peripapillary retinal thickness were measured by SD‐OCT (Spectralis OCT).ResultsThe measured value RNFL thickness and peripapillary retina were significantly fluctuate with the macularedema. The initial CMT, CMT changes were quantitively correlated with RNFL thickness alteration (p < 0.01). The initialCMT, CMT changes also significantly correlated with peripapillary retina ranging from 3 and 5 mm of optic disc, butthere was distinction associated with geographic difference. In the subgroup analysis, there were difference associations according to kinds comorbid diasese.ConclusionsThe macular edema effected the RNFL and the peripapillary retina. The measurements of RNFL andperipaillary retina were quantitively correlated in some kinds of comorbid diasese. The central macular thickness shouldbe considered in clinical application of detection about decreased RNFL thickness in patients who have macular edema.