Abstract

FR.20.08

Quantitative OCT analysis of changes in the macular layers as a result of non-glaucomatous optic atrophies

Helmut Tegetmeyer, Elisabeth Kühn

Klinik und Poliklinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig

Objective
Optic atrophies result not only in a reduction of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness but also in a reduction of macular volume (MV). The effects of optic atrophies on the thickness of individual macular layers were analysed by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Methods
27 patients (mean age 32.0+15.8 years) with non-glaucomatous optic atrophies of different genesis (among them postneuritic, hereditary, traumatic, and compressive neuropathies) and 21 normal subjects (mean age 30.9+17.9 years) were investigated. OCT-scans of the circumpapillary RNFL and of the macula were obtained by means of fast scan protocols using Stratus OCT 3000 (Carl Zeiss Meditec). Using the exported JPEG images of macular scans, the axial reflectivity profiles of the 6 radial macular scans were determined and averaged from 12 measuring points at a distance of 1.5mm from the foveola. The characteristic sequence of 5 intensity maxima and 4 intensity minima was attributed to the location of the individual macular layers.
Results
The eyes affected by optic atrophy showed significant (p<0.05) reductions of RNFL thickness (64.4µm+15.1µm) and MV values (6.00mm³+0.42mm³) as compared to the control group (103.5µm+9.7µm and 6.90mm³+0.34mm³, respectively). In all forms of optic atrophy investigated in this study, not only the macular nerve fibre layer (MNFL) but also all inner macular layers showed a reduction in thickness. The mean reduction was measured at  21.2% (MNFL), 39.7% (ganglion cell layer), 33.2% (inner plexiform layer), and 9,4% (inner nuclear layer), respectively. Changes of the outer macular layers were found only in traumatic optic atrophies (increased thickness of the inner receptor segment/outer nuclear layer).
Conclusions

Copyright: 2009 Porstmann Kongresse GmbH. All rights reserved. Impressum, Disclaimer.