The research of optical coherence tomography on non-arterior ischemic optic neuropathy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in eyes with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and the correlation between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with visual field detection. Methods Retrospective Case-control study.Participants:twenty-one patients diagnosed with NAION in our center between August 1 2007 and August 1 2009.Methods:Patients diagnosed with NAION were included to take optical coherence tomography scans of an area with a diameter of 3.46mm surrounding the disc and visual field and pattern-reversal visual evoked potential. Results The RNFL thickness of eyes with NAION was thinner than normal eyes,particularly in superior area,which corresponded to inferior altitudinal VF defects,and also in the unaffected area of NAION eyes.The mean RNFL thickness were correlated with visual field mean deviation (r=0.38,P ＜0.05).OCT showed that NAION eyes had marked decreased RNFL thickness at the superior sectors.And the other area RNFL thickness (corresponding to the relative unaffected visual hemi-fi eld) also showed significantly statistics lower values in NAION eyes than in control eyes. Conclusions It suggests that loss of RNFL in NAION may extend beyond the region that corresponds to the VF defect as detected.The thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in eyes with NAION is correlated with the visual field results. Key words: Optic Neuropathy; Ischemic; Retinal nerve fiber layer; Optical coherence