Reduction Of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Research Articles

Effect of intravitreal injections due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and minimum rim width: a cross sectional study

PurposeThe present study tested the hypothesis that repeated anti-VEGF injections are associated with reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and minimum rim width (MRW) of the optic nerve head.Patients and methodsSixty-six patients with a history of intravitreal injections due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration were included. RNFL and MRW were measured using optical coherence tomography (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).ResultsMean global RNFL was 90.62 μm and both RNFL as well as MRW significantly decreased with advanced age (p = 0.005 and p = 0.019, respectively). Correlating for the number of injections, no significant impact on RNFL was found globally (p = 0.642) or in any of the sectors. In contrast, however, global MRW was significantly reduced with increasing numbers of intravitreal injections (p = 0.012). The same holds true when adjusted for the confounding factor age (RNFL p = 0.566 and MRW p = 0.023).ConclusionOur study shows that repeated intravitreal injections due to choroidal neovascularization seem to have a deleterious effect on MRW but not on RNFL. This suggests that MRW is a more sensitive marker than RNFL for evaluating the effect of frequent intravitreal injections on the optic nerve head since it seems to be the first structure affected.

Associations between Nocturnal Hypoxemia and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning: The Nagahama Study.

Rationale: There have been meta-analyses that showed reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, which is a surrogate marker of glaucoma, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the sample sizes in these reports were small (<300), and the mechanism of RNFL thinning in patients with OSA was not revealed.Objectives: To investigate the relationship of RNFL thickness with nocturnal hypoxemia or hypoxemic burden in a large-scale study.Methods: In this epidemiological study, 8,309 community residents were enrolled. The actigraphy-modified 3% oxygen desaturation index (acti-ODI3%) and cumulative percentage of sleep time with oxygen saturation <90% (acti-CT90) modified by objective sleep duration using actigraphy were measured. The hypoxemic burden is shown as acti-CT90. Circumpapillary RNFL thickness was determined using optical coherence tomography.Results: Multivariable logistic analysis models revealed that an increase in acti-CT90 was significantly associated with mean RNFL thinning after adjusting for several factors in participants without glaucoma diagnosed or treated previously (β = -0.037; P = 0.009). There were significant differences in mean RNFL thickness among participants stratified according to acti-CT90 (>1.5 vs. ⩽1.5; P = 0.04). Although acti-ODI3% was significantly associated with acti-CT90 (β = 0.72; P < 0.0001), acti-ODI3% was not significantly associated with mean RNFL thickness in the multivariable logistic analysis (β = -0.011; P = 0.48). In addition, acti-CT90 was significantly associated with mean RNFL thickness both in the elderly (⩾60 yr; β = -0.058; P = 0.002) and nonelderly (<60 yr; β = -0.054; P = 0.007).Conclusions: Acti-CT90, but not acti-ODI3%, was associated with mean RNFL thinning in participants irrespective of age in the elderly or nonelderly. Further prospective studies are required to investigate whether the prevention of hypoxic burden, which was shown as acti-CT90 in this study, is favorable for RNFL thinning.

Association of plasma lactoferrin levels with disease severity in glaucoma patients.

To explore the relationship between plasma lactoferrin (Lf) and glaucoma, assessing the clinical utility of Lf in glaucoma. A cross-sectional study involved 161 glaucoma patients and 115 healthy controls, with a follow-up of 14 subjects after approximately 2 years. Plasma Lf markers were quantified using ELISA, comparing levels between glaucoma patients and healthy controls, and analyzing plasma Lf across different glaucoma severity grades. Glaucoma patients had significantly elevated plasma Lf levels compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Higher plasma Lf levels correlated with more severe disease stages (HPA grades showed ρ = 0.435, p < 0.001; AGIS grades showed ρ = 0.436, p < 0.001) and reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (RNFL thickness showed ρ = -0.204, p = 0.024). ROC curve analysis demonstrated the efficacy of glaucoma markers in differentiating early-stage from advanced glaucoma. Plasma Lf levels are significantly associated with glaucoma severity and may be involved in the pathogenic progression of the disease.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and macular outer retinal layers are reduced in cognitively unimpaired older adults at high risk of AD. Preliminary results from a five ‐year longitudinal study

AbstractBackgroundThe retina, an extension of the central nervous system, shows promise for development of non‐invasive, low cost AD risk screening biomarkers. Most studies do not answer the question of whether retinal biomarkers are useful in the pre‐symptomatic phase of AD for assessment of early disease risk. In this study1, we investigated structural changes in the retinal neural layers between low and high risk cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence tomography (SD‐OCT).MethodThese data were provided from an ongoing trial that will conclude enrolment in the summer of 2022.1 Macular (30×25‐degree) and optic disc centered (radii of 3.5, 4.1, and 4.7 mm) SD‐OCT images of 13 CU low risk (age mean: 67 years; range: 56‐75 years) and 60 CU older adults at high risk for AD (age mean: 66 years; range: 55‐81 years; no significant difference in age between the two groups, p = 0.43) were acquired using the Spectralis imaging device. Participants had MoCA score ≥ 26, and RBANS‐U DMI score ≥ 85. Vendor software was used to segment and compute average retinal thickness in the 9 ETDRS maps for the macular and 7 glaucoma fields for the optic disk. Independent sample t test was used to compare retinal layer thickness between the two groups. A p‐value &lt; 0.05 assessed statistical significance. Cohen’s d served as effect size measure.ResultIn the macular region, there were reduced retinal volume/thickness measurements for high risk vs. low risk CU older adults (outer plexiform layer volume in the inner inferior region; 0.054 vs. 0.062 mm3, p = 0.047, d = 0.62; central outer nuclear layer, ONL thickness; 97 vs. 102 µm, p = 0.041, d = 0.64; central ONL volume; 0.076 vs. 0.16 mm3, p = 0.023, d = 0.71). In the peripapillary region, there was reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the temporal region for high risk vs. low risk CU older adults (3.5 mm radius; 66.7 vs. 75.6 µm, p = 0.011, d = 0.80; 4.1 mm radius; 59.7 vs. 68.3 µm, p = 0.006, d = 0.87; 4.7 mm radius; 54.2 vs. 62.2 µm, p = 0.006, d = 0.87).ConclusionOur initial analysis shows reduced peripapillary RNFL and macular outer retinal layers in CU high risk vs. low risk group.

OPA1 Dominant Optic Atrophy: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets.

OPA1 Dominant Optic Atrophy: Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targets.

The Comparison of Retinal Microvascular Findings in Acute COVID-19 and 1-Year after Hospital Discharge Assessed with Multimodal Imaging-A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

This study aimed to quantify possible long-term impairment of the retinal microcirculation and microvasculature by reassessing a cohort of patients with acute COVID-19 without other known comorbidities one year after their discharge from the hospital. Thirty patients in the acute phase of COVID-19 without known systemic comorbidities were enrolled in this prospective longitudinal cohort study. Fundus photography, SS-OCT, and SS-OCTA using swept-source OCT (SS-OCT, Topcon DRI OCT Triton; Topcon Corp., Tokyo, Japan) were performed in the COVID-19 unit and 1-year after hospital discharge. The cohort's median age was 60 years (range 28-65) and 18 (60%) were male. Mean vein diameter (MVD) significantly decreased over time, from 134.8 μm in the acute phase to 112.4 μm at a 1-year follow-up (p < 0.001). A significantly reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was observed at follow-up in the inferior quadrant of the inner ring (mean diff. 0.80 95% CI 0.01-1.60, p = 0.047) and inferior (mean diff. 1.56 95% CI 0.50-2.61, p < 0.001), nasal (mean diff. 2.21 95% CI 1.16-3.27, p < 0.001), and superior (mean diff. 1.69 95% CI 0.63-2.74, p < 0.001) quadrants of the outer ring. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding vessel density of the superior and deep capillary plexuses. The transient dilatation of the retinal vessels in the acute phase of COVID-19, as well as RNFL thickness changes, could become a biomarker of angiopathy in patients with severe COVID-19.

The Impact of Robotic Fractionated Radiotherapy for Benign Tumors of Parasellar Region on the Eye Structure and Function.

To evaluate the radiation effect of fractionated robotic radiotherapy of benign tumors located in the parasellar region on the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. A prospective observational study based on the expanded ophthalmological examination. The pre-treatment baseline was used as a control for the post-radiotherapy follow-up examinations. The study group consists of 34 patients (68 eyes) irradiated using the CyberKnife system. There were ten patients with cavernous sinus meningioma, nine with pituitary adenoma, five with meningioma of the anterior and middle cranial fossa, five with meningioma in the region close to optic chiasm, three with craniopharyngioma, and two with meningioma of the orbit. All patients were treated using three fractions of 600-800 cGy. We assessed the impact of radiation on the eye based on changes in anatomical and functional features. The condition of the eye surface, central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell density (ECD), lens densitometry, central macular thickness (CMT), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were the anatomical features assessed. The functional tests were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field (VF) and visual-evoked potentials (VEP). An ophthalmologic examination was performed before and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after radiotherapy. We did not observe any significant changes in BCVA, IOP, CCT, CMT, VF, and VEP, nor in the slit-lamp examination during the two-years observation. We found a significant decrease in ECD at all follow-up measurements. The drop in ECD exceeded approximated age-related physiological loss. The reduction in ECD was not large enough to disrupt corneal function and thus affect vision. We also observed a statistically significant reduction of RNFL in all observation time points. However, there was no correlation between the dose delivered to the optic pathway and the decrease in RNFL thickness. The thinning of the RNFL was not significant enough to impair visual function. Fractionated robotic radiotherapy of the tumors located close to the optical pathway is safe and does not impair patient's vision. Minor changes found in optic nerve anatomy (RNFL thinning) might be related to radiation effect or tumor compression. The causal relation between low doses of radiation delivered to the cornea and the observed significant but slight decrease in ECD is uncertain. The observed changes did not cause visual disturbances perceivable by the patients.

Neurophysiological and ophthalmological findings of SPG7-related spastic ataxia: a phenotype study in an Irish cohort.

Mutations in SPG7 are increasingly identified as a common cause of spastic ataxia. We describe a cohort of Irish patients with recessive SPG7-associated phenotype. Comprehensive phenotyping was performed with documentation of clinical, neurophysiological, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and genetic data from individuals with SPG7 attending two academic neurology units in Dublin, including the National Ataxia Clinic. Thirty-two symptomatic individuals from 25 families were identified. Mean age at onset was39.1years (range 12-61), mean disease duration 17.8years (range 5-45), mean disease severity as quantified with the scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia 9/40 (range 3-29). All individuals displayed variable ataxia and spasticity within a spastic-ataxic phenotype, and additional ocular abnormalities. Two had spasmodic dysphonia and three had colour vision deficiency. Brain imaging consistently revealed cerebellar atrophy (n = 29); neurophysiology demonstrated a length-dependent large-fibre axonal neuropathy in 2/27 studied. The commonest variant was c.1529C > T (p.Ala510Val), present in 21 families. Five novel variants were identified. No significant thinning of average retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) was demonstrated on OCT (p = 0.61), but temporal quadrant reduction was evident compared to controls (p < 0.05), with significant average and temporal RNFL decline over time. Disease duration, severity and visual acuity were not correlated with RNFL thickness. Our results highlight that recessive SPG7 mutations may account for spastic ataxia with peripheral neuropathy in only a small proportion of patients. RNFL abnormalities with predominant temporal RNFL reduction are common and OCT should be considered part of the routine assessment in spastic ataxia.

Progression patterns of normal-tension glaucoma groups classified by hierarchical cluster analysis.

To investigate differences in progression patterns of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients in three clusters classified by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). In a retrospective study, 200 eyes of NTG patients classified by HCA in 2015 who were followed up to the current date were evaluated. Peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thicknesses were measured by Cirrus HD-OCT and progression rate was calculated by trend analysis (Guided Progression Analysis [GPA]). VF progression rate was evaluated by linear regression analysis of mean deviation (MD). Progression patterns of three clusters were compared by histograms. In total, 153 eyes of 153 patients were followed up. Mean observation period was 5 years. RNFL reduction rate was -0.83 μm/year in cluster 1, which showed early glaucomatous damage in previous reports; -0.45 μm/year in cluster 2, which showed moderate glaucomatous damage; and -0.36 μm/year in cluster 3, which showed young and myopic glaucomatous damage. The progression pattern of cluster 3 showed a double-peak distribution; RNFL reduction rate was 0.11 μm/year in the non-progressive group and -1.07 μm/year in the progressive group. The progression patterns were different among three NTG groups that were divided by HCA. In particular, the group of young and myopic eyes showed a mixture of two different patterns.

Ability of Swept source OCT technology to detect neurodegeneration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy.

To evaluate neurodegeneration in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) without diabetic retinopathy, and to assess the possible role of chronic systemic ischaemia and disease duration in retinal changes. Observational cross sectional study. Sixty eyes of 60 patients with DM2 without signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and 60 eyes of 60 healthy controls underwent retinal (ganglion cell layer (GCL), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and choroidal evaluation using Swept source Optical coherence tomography, which allows high quality analysis of the different retinal layers and the choroidal plexus. Comparison between patients with presence/absence of systemic vascular complications and different disease duration time was performed. Macular GCL and RNFL were reduced in patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). In the peripapillary area, a reduction of the RNFL (p < 0.001) was observed in patients with DM2. There were no significant changes observed in the choroidal plexus of these patients. Patients with systemic ischaemia presented significant thinning of the choroid and further reduction of the temporal RNFL (p = 0.014) and GCL (p = 0.016) thickness. The GCL and the choroid were also thinner in patients with longer disease duration. Patients with early DM2 present retinal neurodegeneration prior to the appearance of clinically observable vascular retinal changes. In these patients chronic systemic ischaemia caused reduction of the choroidal plexus and further damage to the retinal layers, adding new information on systemic chronic ischaemia and retinal neurodegeneration in patients with DM2 without DR.

Progression patterns of normal‐tension glaucoma groups classified by Hierarchical cluster analysis

AbstractPurposeTo investigate differences in progression patterns of normal‐tension glaucoma patients in three clusters classified by Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA).Method200 eyes of NTG patients classified by HCA in 2015 who were followed up until now were included. We evaluated the progression rate of NTG in SD‐OCT and visual field test and compared characteristics of the progression in each group.ResultA total of 153 patients were followed up and the mean observation period was 5 years. In cluster 1, which showed early glaucomatous damage in the previous report, the mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) reduction rate was −0.83 μm/year. In cluster 2, which showed moderate glaucomatous damage, the reduction rate was −0.45 μm/year, and In cluster 3, which showed young and myopic glaucomatous damage, the rate was −0.36 μm/year. The progression pattern of cluster 3 showed a double‐peak distribution with the RNFL reduction rate being 0.11 μm/year in non‐progressive group and −1.07 μm/year in progressive group.ConclusionWhen the optic nerve head parameters were classified by HCA, the divided groups showed different patterns of NTG progression. In particular, the group of young myopia showed a mixture of two different patterns. /

Long term effect of panretinal photocoagulation on retinal nerve fiber layer parameters in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE:This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effect of panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).METHODS:This was a prospective longitudinal cohort study examining 42 eyes of 42 patients with PDR undergoing PRP. Peripapillary RNFL thickness (RNFLT) was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years following PRP.RESULTS:The mean “average RNFLT” was 89.88 ± 14.26 μm at baseline, 85.75 ± 11.36 μm at 1-year follow-up, and 83.33 ± 11.96 μm at 3-year follow-up. There was a statistically significant difference in the average RNFL thickness at baseline and 1 year and 3 years after PRP. At 1-year follow-up, superior, inferior, and nasal RNFL measurements reduced significantly from baseline (P < 0.01). The reduction in RNFL remained statistically significant for superior and inferior quadrants 3 years after PRP.CONCLUSION:PRP causes a reduction in RNFL thickness until 3 years after the procedure. Caution should be exercised while interpreting peripapillary RNFL thickness scans in patients who have undergone PRP for diabetic retinopathy.

Confocal microscopy of corneal nerve plexus as an early marker of eye involvement in patients with type 2 diabetes

PurposeTo measure the thickness and length of corneal nerves and the peri-papillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM). MethodsTwenty-two eyes of 22 patients recently diagnosed with type 2 DM and 22 eyes of 22 healthy individuals were consecutively enrolled. Central corneal sensitivity was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, and corneal nerve length (CNL) and thickness (CNT) were evaluated through in vivo confocal microscopy. The confocal images were examined using software that could semi-automatically trace the corneal nerve pathway. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was performed to quantify the overall and sectorial RNFL thickness. ResultsMean DM duration was 3.5 ± 1.7 months, whereas the mean glycemia and HbA1c levels were 180.5 ± 73.13 mg/dl and 8.6 ± 1.7% (65.2 ± 19.7 mmol/mol), respectively. Corneal sensation threshold was significantly lower in the DM group compared to control group (p = 0.003). CNL and CNT were reduced in the DM group (p = 0.043 and p = 0.004, respectively). Significant correlations were found between CNT and HbA1c levels (p = 0.04; r = −0.47), and between CNT and the corneal sensation threshold (p = 0.04; r = 0.69). RNFL thickness was significantly reduced in the temporal quadrants, but no correlation was found with CNT and CNL changes (p > 0.05). ConclusionsCNL and CNT changes are evident even in the early stages of DM, and RNFL reduction was recorded in the temporal quadrants. These findings indicate that, in the eye with diabetes, neuropathy may represent an early marker of the disease.

Reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in ALS patients: a window to disease progression.

To assess RNFL thickness in ALS patients and compare it to healthy controls, and to detect possible correlations between RNFL thickness in ALS patients and disease severity and duration. Study population consisted of ALS patients and age- and sex-matched controls. We used the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R) as a measure of disease severity. RNFL thickness in the four quadrants were measured with a spectral domain OCT (Topcon 3D, 2015). We evaluated 20 ALS patients (40 eyes) and 25 healthy matched controls. Average RNFL thickness in ALS patients was significantly reduced compared to controls (102.57 ± 13.46 compared to 97.11 ± 10.76, p 0.04). There was a significant positive correlation between the functional abilities of the patients based on the ALSFRS-R and average RNFL thickness and also RNFL thickness in most quadrants. A linear regression analysis proved that this correlation was independent of age. In ALS patients, RNFL thickness in the nasal quadrant of the left eyes was significantly reduced compared to the corresponding quadrant in the right eyes even after adjustment for multiplicity (85.80 ± 23.20 compared to 96.80 ± 16.96, p = 0.008). RNFL thickness in ALS patients is reduced compared to healthy controls. OCT probably could serve as a marker of neurodegeneration and progression of the disease in ALS patients. RNFL thickness is different among the right and left eyes of ALS patients pointing to the fact that asymmetric CNS involvement in ALS is not confined to the motor system.

The role of optical coherence tomography in neuro-ophthalmology

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an ocular imaging technique that can complement the neuro-ophthalmic assessment, and inform our understanding regarding functional consequences of neuroaxonal injury in the afferent visual pathway. Indeed, OCT has emerged as a surrogate end-point in the diagnosis and follow up of several demyelinating syndromes of the central nervous system (CNS), including optic neuritis (ON) associated with: multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies. Recent advancements in enhanced depth imaging (EDI) OCT have distinguished this technique as a new gold standard in the diagnosis of optic disc drusen (ODD). Moreover, OCT may enhance our ability to distinguish cases of papilledema from pseudopapilledema caused by ODD. In the setting of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), OCT has shown benefit in tracking responses to treatment, with respect to reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measures and morphological changes in the angling of Bruch’s membrane. Longitudinal follow up of OCT measured ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness may be of particular value in managing IIH patients who have secondary optic atrophy. Causes of compressive optic neuropathies may be readily diagnosed with OCT, even in the absence of overt visual field defects. Furthermore, OCT values may offer some prognostic value in predicting post-operative outcomes in these patients. Finally, OCT can be indispensable in differentiating optic neuropathies from retinal diseases in patients presenting with vision loss, and an unrevealing fundus examination. In this review, our over-arching goal is to highlight the potential role of OCT, as an ancillary investigation, in the diagnosis and management of various optic nerve disorders.

No evidence of disease activity is associated with reduced rate of axonal retinal atrophy in MS.

To explore, in a longitudinal study, the usefulness of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in monitoring people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by testing the association between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning and clinical and brain MRI criteria of no evidence of disease activity (NEDA). OCT, visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and disability, using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), were tested at baseline and after 2 years in 72 patients, 63 with routine yearly brain MRI. Longitudinal mean binocular RNFL thinning, in absence of optic neuritis during follow-up, was correlated with EDSS worsening, also controlling for baseline EDSS, RNFL, disease duration, and MS subtype (Spearman ρ -0.462, p < 0.001; partial correlation coefficient -0.437, p < 0.001). At follow-up, patients classified as NEDA (20; 31.7%) had RNFL loss of -0.93 μm ± 1.35 SD, while patients with active disease had -2.83 μm ± 2 SD thinning (t test; p < 0.001). At logistic regression, mean RNFL reduction correctly classified 76.2% of patients as NEDA at 2 years (R2 0.355; p = 0.003). A cutoff of -1.25 μm RNFL loss classified NEDA status with specificity 81.4% and sensitivity 80% (receiver operating characteristic curve: area under the curve 0.8; p < 0.001). No significant longitudinal correlations were found between changes in RNFL and in VEP latencies or scores. NEDA is associated with a relatively preserved RNFL over 2 years. A greater neuroretinal loss was detected even in patients with clinical evidence of disease activity independently from changes in brain MRI lesions, prompting further validation of OCT as an additional tool in MS monitoring.

Presence of Peripheral Neuropathy Is Associated With Progressive Thinning of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Type 1 Diabetes.

Reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness has been demonstrated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in cross-sectional studies. This prospective study defines longitudinal alterations to the RNFL thickness in individuals with type 1 diabetes without (DPN-ve) and with (DPN+ve) DPN and in relation to risk factors for nerve damage. A cohort of 105 individuals with type 1 diabetes (20% DPN+ve) with predominantly mild or no retinopathy and no previous retinal photocoagulation underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at baseline, 2 years, and 4 years. SD-OCT scans were acquired at 3.45-mm diameter around the optic nerve head and the overall RNFL and RNFL in the nasal, superior, temporal, and inferior quadrants were quantified. By including serial quantified RNFL parameters, linear mixed models were applied to assess the change in RNFL thickness over time and to explore the associations with other clinical variables. There was a significant decline in the overall RNFL thickness (-0.7 μm/y, P = 0.02) and RNFL in the superior quadrant (-1.9 μm/y, P < 0.01) in the DPN+ve group compared with DPN-ve group. The overall RNFL thickness and RNFL in the superior and nasal quadrants were inversely associated with age (β = -0.29, -0.41, and -0.29, respectively; P ≤ 0.02). Sex, retinopathy, diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, blood pressure, cigarette use, alcohol consumption, and body mass index did not show any significant effects (P > 0.05). Individuals with DPN showed a progressive RNFL thinning overall and in the superior quadrant, which was more pronounced in older individuals. There may be common pathways for retinal and peripheral neurodegeneration that are independent of conventional DPN risk factors.

Age and axial length on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured by optical coherence tomography in nonglaucomatous Taiwanese participants.

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of age and axial length (AL) on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsHealthy patients visiting an eye clinic at a county hospital were recruited. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations, and their retinas were scanned using 3D OCT-1000. In total, 223 patients with 446 eyes were included. The mean age and AL were 42.07 ± 13.16 (21–76) years and 25.38 ± 1.73 (21.19–30.37) mm, respectively.ResultsThe average RNFL thickness decreased by 2.71 μm for every 10-year increase in age (P < 0.001). Age-related RNFL thinning was more significant in participants older than 41 years (-0.24μm/year; P = 0.015). The earliest sector showing a significant decline in RNFL thickness was after 35 years of age (-0.70μm/year; P = 0.011) at the superior quadrant and at the 1–2 o’clock hour (-1.42μm/year; P = 0.009). Meanwhile, the maximal rate of age-associated RNFL decay was observed in these two regions as well. The reduction of RNFL with age progression did not differ in eyes with long AL (> 27 mm; -0.16μm/year) or those with short AL (< 25 mm; -0.22μm/year). For every 1-mm-greater AL, RNFL was thinner by 1.78 μm (P < 0.001). The inferior quadrant showed the greatest tendency of RNFL decline with longer AL (4.46 μm/mm; P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe factors of age and AL should be considered when interpreting the results. Significantly age-associated RNFL thinning was found in participants older than 41 years. Reduction of RNFL thickness with increasing age was not affected by AL. Topographic variations in RNFL thinning were observed in that the maximal decline of RNFL thickness with advancing age at the superior quadrant whereas with elongation of AL at the inferior quadrant.

Migraine causes retinal and choroidal structural changes: evaluation with ocular coherence tomography.

Few studies have evaluated whether the retina is involved in migraine through the evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) examined with ocular coherence tomography (OCT) with conflicting results. Aim of this case-control study is to evaluate the retina and the choroid in migraine. Patients having migraine with aura (MwA) or without aura (MoA) and chronic migraine (CM) were evaluated. Age- and sex-matched normal subjects were selected as healthy controls (HC). Patients and HC were examined with OCT. RNFL, ganglion cell layer (GCL), foveal thickness (FT), choroidal thickness (CT) and total macular volume (TMV) were calculated for right eyes (RE) and left eyes (LE). Seventy-seven patients (62 women; 80.5%), 21 MoA, 12 MwA, 44 CM and 42 HC were enrolled in the study. Patients compared to HC had a significant reduction of RNFL (RE: 91.2±9.2 vs 99.3±7.5μm; p<0.001. LE: 93.3±8.7 vs 100.2±6.5μm; p<0.001). GCL (RE: 80.6±6.4 vs 86.9±2.1μm; p<0.0001. LE: 81.5±5.7 vs 87.1±2.6μm; p<0.0001) and CT (RE: 286.4±31.4 vs 333.2±3.1μm; p<0.0001. LE: 287.2±31.6 vs 334.5±4.1μm; p<0.0001) were thinner in patients compared to HC. Moreover, CM showed reduction of RNFL and of GCL compared to the other migraineurs. Finally, we found a significant inverse correlation between RNFL thickness and total number of headache attacks per months. Our data suggest the involvement of retina and choroid in migraineurs, especially in the CM group. Although migraine is an episodic and recurrent disease, its chronic nature might cause permanent structural abnormalities involving not only the brain, but also the retina.

Evaluation of the Innermost Retinal Layers and Visual Evoked Potentials in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACTPurpose: The present study was conducted to investigate alterations in the innermost layers of the retina using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to assess potential associations of structural measures with functional markers in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).Materials and Methods: Ninety-four eyes of 47 MS patients and 60 eyes of 30 healthy individuals were included in the study. All patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination and OCT imaging to analyze peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score were assessed for MS patients.Results: The average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were thinner in MS patients (86.2 ± 11.9 µm and 73.6 ± 9.7 µm, respectively) when compared with those of healthy controls (96.7 ± 8.2 µm and 85.9 ± 4.6 µm, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). Within MS patients, the average RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were lower in eyes with a prior history of optic neuritis (MS ON) than in eyes with no optic neuritis history (MS non-ON) (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively). RNFL and GCIPL thicknesses were inversely correlated with VEP latency (r = −0.40, p < 0.001 and r = −0.36, p < 0.001, respectively) in MS patient eyes. There was a correlation between GCIPL thickness and VEP amplitude in eyes with previous ON history (r = 0.34, p = 0.035). No significant correlations were found between OCT measurements and EDSS score.Conclusions: Innermost layers of the retina are highly affected by the pathophysiologic process in MS disease, manifesting as a reduction in RNFL and GCIPL thickness. The structural retinal changes show correlation with alterations in potentials showing the optic pathway function.