Longitudinal changes in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the fellow eyes of unilateral retinal vein occlusion

Abstract

To analyze longitudinal changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thicknesses over time in the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral retinal vein occlusion (RVO). A total of 47 patients with unilateral RVO and 47 healthy controls were enrolled. The mean and sectoral pRNFL thicknesses were measured using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography at 1 year intervals, and followed for 3 years. Linear mixed models were performed to calculate and compare the reduction rates of pRNFL thicknesses over time. The mean pRNFL thickness decreased significantly during the 3-year follow-up, with a significant decrease over time in both groups. The reduction rate in mean pRNFL thicknesses was −0.41 μm/year in the control group and −0.68 μm/year in the fellow eyes of RVO group, and the decrease was significantly higher in the fellow eyes of RVO group than in the control group (p < 0.001). Using a multivariate linear mixed model, age (estimate: −0.41, p = 0.011) and hypertension (HTN) (estimate: −6.51, p = 0.014) were significantly associated with the reduction in mean pRNFL thicknesses in fellow eyes of RVO group. The fellow eyes of RVO patients showed a greater reduction in pRNFL thickness over time than normal controls. Age and HTN should be considered as factors to decrease the pRNFL thickness over time in fellow eyes of RVO group.

Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients with unilateral retinal vein occlusion

“…The inferior quadrant is the area where glaucoma changes are most commonly observed 33 . A previous study investigating longitudinal changes in the pRNFL thickness of fellow eyes of patients with unilateral RVO (both BRVO and CRVO) reported that the annual reduction rate was greater in the fellow eyes compared to those in normal controls 22 . However, the BRVO and CRVO groups were not analyzed separately, and the CRVO group only included eight eyes.…”

“…To confirm the association between RVO and glaucoma, several previous studies have investigated the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) 14 , 18 – 22 . It has been reported that, two years after unilateral BRVO diagnosis, the pRNFL thickness in the affected eye is thinner than that of the normal fellow eye 19 .…”

“…However, previous studies have analyzed either BRVO and CRVO patients together 14 , 20 , 22 or exclusively BRVO patients 18 , 19 , 21 . Kim et al 14 classified RVO according to the location of the occluded vein as arteriovenous crossing RVO (AV-RVO), optic nerve site RVO (ON-RVO), or optic nerve site RVO with optic nerve swelling (ONHS-RVO), to subsequently perform a subgroup analysis; they found no difference in the pRNFL thickness between the AV-RVO and ON-RVO groups.…”

Analysis of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness in retinal vein occlusion with resolved macular edema

“…A study demonstrated that retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurons are vulnerable to damage prior to the onset of apparent microvascular diabetic retinopathy (DR) damage, and such RGC damage may be progressive with subsequent severe forms of DR development [16]. Shin et al reported age and hypertension should be considered as risk factors of RVO by analyzing the longitudinal changes in peripapillary retinal nerve ber layer (RNFL) thickness over time [17]. Beyond speci c systemic diseases, individuals with metabolic syndrome were found having thinner inner retinal layers in OCT segmentation analysis, which suggests that the inherent factors, such as dysfunctional adipose tissuederived chronic in ammation and insulin resistance, might have an effect on neurodegeneration [18,19].…”