Characterization of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness changes associated with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy by optical coherence tomography

Abstract

In the present study, the changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness associated with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) were examined by Cirrus high definition-optical coherence tomography (OCT), and the correlation between the RNFL thickness and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was evaluated. A cross-sectional study was performed. Sixty-eight eyes from patients with LHON and 30 eyes from healthy individuals were scanned. Affected eyes were divided into 5 groups according to disease duration: Group 1, ≤3 months; group 2, 4–6 months; group 3, 7–9 months; group 4, 10–12 months; and group 5, >12 months. The RNFL thickness of the temporal, superior, nasal and inferior quadrants and the 360° average were compared between the LHON groups and the control group. The eyes in groups 1 and 2 were observed to have a thicker RNFL in the superior, nasal and inferior quadrants and a higher 360°-average RNFL thickness compared with those of the control group (P<0.05), the RNFL was observed to be thinner in the temporal quadrant in groups 1 and 2. The eyes in groups 3 and 4 showed a thinner RNFL in the temporal (P=0.001), superior and inferior (both P<0.05) quadrants, and a lower 360°-average RNFL thickness as compared with controls (P=0.001). No significant correlation was identified between BCVA and RNFL thickness. RNFL thickness was observed to undergo a unique process from thickening to thinning in the patients with LHON. Changes in different quadrants occurred at different time periods and the BCVA was not found to be correlated with RNFL thickness.

Characterization of macular thickness changes in Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy by optical coherence tomography

“…RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant became thinner first [ 10 ]. In a previous study on the RNFL, we showed the temporal side of the RNFL exhibited a trend of thinning first, which happened in the initial 3–6 months of the disease and indicated that the thinning of the ganglion cell layer was earlier than the RNFL [ 14 ]. The perifoveal retina is the peripheral zone of the macular region.…”

ATP-Induced Photoreceptor Death in a Feline Model of Retinal Degeneration

“…This resembles inner retinal swelling as previously observed from OCT in human retinal degenerations. [62][63][64] We propose that increased thickness represents intraretinal edema in response to ongoing degeneration. This could explain the .…”

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy - Case report

“…RNFL thickening is correlated with axonal edema and mitochondrial redistribution at dysfunctional ganglion cells, affecting the prelaminar unmyelinated portion of the optic nerve axons [7]. In the acute phase and in the first 6 months of onset, the RNFL analysis shows thickening in the upper and lower segments, compared to the control group [8,9]. At the atrophic stage, a RNFL thinning appears in all segments.…”