J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2020 Jan;61(1):92-100. 10.3341/jkos.2020.61.1.92.

Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer Thicknesses and Visual Functions in Patients with Bilateral Temporal Optic Atrophy

• Kim BG
• Park JY
• Oh WH
• Choi J

• KMID: 2468481
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2020.61.1.92

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate correlations between macular retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer thickness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and visual field parameters in patients with bilateral temporal optic atrophy.
METHODS
Thirty eyes of 15 patients with bilateral temporal optic atrophy and 30 eyes of 15 normal subjects that were age- and sex-matched were included in the study. We measured the thicknesses of the RGC layers of posterior poles using optical coherence tomography volume scanning. The RGC layer was divided into nine zones based on the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study baseline. Possible correlations of the RGC layer with the BCVA and visual field parameters were determined.
RESULTS
The RGC layer thickness was significantly thinner in all patients compared to those in the control group (p = 0.001). The RGC layer thicknesses in the inner superior, inner temporal, inner inferior, and inner nasal areas were significantly correlated with the BCVA (r = −0.650, r = −0.626, r = −0.616, and r = −0.636, respectively; p = 0.000). The RGC layer thicknesses in the outer superior, outer temporal, outer inferior, and outer nasal areas were significantly correlated with the mean deviation of the visual field test (r = 0.470, r = 0.349, r = 0.496, and r = 0.469, respectively; p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with bilateral temporal optic atrophy, the RGC layer thickness in the medial region was correlated with the BCVA, and the RGC layer thickness in the lateral region was correlated with the mean deviation of the visual field test.

Keyword

Optic atrophy; Retinal ganglion cell layer; Visual acuity; Visual disorder; Visual field

MeSH Terms

Diabetic Retinopathy
Humans
Optic Atrophy*
Retinal Ganglion Cells*
Retinaldehyde*
Tomography, Optical Coherence
Vision Disorders
Visual Acuity
Visual Field Tests
Visual Fields
Retinaldehyde

Figure

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  Figure 1 Representative figure of a 40-year-old female with visual acuity of 0.30 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) in the right eye and 0.30 logMAR in the left eye, showing a severe decrease in the retinal ganglion cell layer thickness.

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  Figure 2 Graphs showing retinal ganglion cell layer thicknesss of patient group and control group. In the patient group, the average thickness is thin in all areas.

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  Figure 3 Scatterplots showing each linear regression analysis model. (A) Relationship between inner superior retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer thickness and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). (B) Relationship between inner temporal RGC layer thickness and BCVA. (C) Relationship between inner inferior RGC layer thickness and BCVA. (D) Relationship between inner nasal RGC layer thickness and BCVA; thinner RGC layer thicness was correlated with lower BCVA. logMAR = logarithm of minimal angle of resolution.

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  Figure 4 Scatterplots showing each linear regression analysis model. (A) Relationship between outer superior retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer thickness and mean deviation (MD). (B) Relationship between outer temporal RGC layer thickness and MD. (C) Relationship between outer inferior RGC layer thickness and MD. (D) Relationship between outer nasal RGC layer thickness and MD; thinner RGC layer thicness was correlated with lower MD.

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