Analysis of the Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Traumatic Optic Neuropathy

Abstract

The aim of the study is to evaluate the change in thickness of the retinal nerve fibre layer following acute traumatic optic neuropathy using optical coherence tomography. Twenty-eight patients who had unilateral decreased visual acuity and who were diagnosed with traumatic optic neuropathy were evaluated. Twelve eyes in the 28 patients who had trauma to the orbit or head resulting in traumatic optic neuropathy were serially examined every 2 weeks for 6 weeks and again at 12 and 24 weeks after the trauma. The progressive axonal change in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was examined with disc optical coherence tomography. The mean age of the 12 patients was 48.58 ± 21.64 years. The mean retinal nerve fibre layer thickness at the second week after trauma was 95.03 ± 5.93 μm; this mean thickness decreased sequentially over the next 6 months and was 50.61 ± 5.99 μm at 24 weeks after trauma. Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness decreased at a faster rate during the first 6 weeks after trauma than in any other period, and the rate of this decrease became stable 6 months after the trauma. The superior and inferior portions of the optic disc showed greater reductions in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness than other areas. The authors conclude that in cases of traumatic optic neuropathy, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness decreased sequentially for 6 months. Most of this decrease occurred during the first 6 weeks after trauma.

Keywords::

• OCT
• RNFL thickness
• traumatic optic neuropathy

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This paper was supported by Dong-A university research fund in 2010.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

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