Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness Increases with Decreasing Spectralis OCT Signal Strength in Normal Eyes

ABSTRACT

We sought to determine effect of signal strength on mean retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) using Spectralis optical coherence tomography (S-OCT). Thirty normal subjects (18 female, mean 37.9 years, range 24-61) were imaged with S-OCT using variably dense Bangerter foils to alter Q value (1 unit signal strength = 4 units Q). We found a statistically significant (p < 0.01) linear relationship (R = 0.8643) between Q and RNFL (1 unit decrease Q = 0.181 um mean RNFL increase). Unlike previous observations of Cirrus and Stratus OCT, we found RNFL thickness does not decrease with decreasing signal strength in S-OCT.

KEYWORDS:

• Retinal nerve fiber layer
• optical coherence tomography
• signal strength
• OCT
• RNFL
• Spectralis

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the writing and content of the article.