Clinical Study
Eye (2007) 21, 1464–1468; doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6702457; published online 2 June 2006
In vivo measurements of macular and nerve fibre layer thickness in retinal arterial occlusion
The authors have no proprietary interest in the development or marketing of any product mentioned in the article and the study receives no financial support
C K S Leung1,2, C C Y Tham1, S Mohammed1, E Y M Li1, K S Leung1, W-M Chan1 and D S C Lam1
- 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PRC
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong, PRC
Correspondence: CKS Leung, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Eye Hospital, 147K Argyle street, Kowloon, PRC. Tel: +825 2762 3124; Fax: +825 2715 9490. E-mail: tlims00@hotmail.com
Received 28 January 2006; Accepted 23 April 2006; Published online 2 June 2006.
Abstract
Aim
To investigate the structure–function relationship in patients with retinal arterial occlusion by measuring the macular and the peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and the visual sensitivity.
Methods
This is an observational case series with three patients with central retinal arterial occlusion (CRAO) and two patients with branch retinal arterial occlusion (BRAO). The macular/peripapillary RNFL thickness and the visual field were measured with Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Humphrey visual field analyzer, respectively, at least 1 year after the diagnosis of CRAO or BRAO.
Results
The macular thickness, in particular the inner retinal layer, and the peripapillary RNFL thickness were reduced in patients with retinal arterial occlusion. The decrease in the macular and the peripapillary RNFL thickness corresponded to the sites of retinal arterial occlusion with diffuse and segmental thinning found in CRAO and BRAO, respectively. Visual field defects were found in the corresponding locations of macular and RNFL thinning, and closely correlated with the degree of the structural damage.
Conclusions
Structural damages in terms of reduction in the macular and peripapillary RNFL thickness were evident in patients with retinal arterial occlusion. A close structure–function correlation was found and a worse functional outcome is associated with a more extensive thinning of the macula and RNFL. OCT measurements of the macular/peripapillary RNFL thickness provide useful indicators to reflect the severity of the disease in retinal arterial occlusion and serve as a new paradigm to study and monitor the disease longitudinally.
Keywords:
retinal arterial occlusion, optical coherence tomography, macular thickness, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, structure–function relationship
