Title | Evaluation of ganglion cells loss in anterior ischaemic optic neuropathies |
Purpose | To analyse the loss of thickness of ganglion cell complex (GCC, inner plexiform layer and ganglion cell layer) in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION). |
Methods | This retrospective study enrolled 32 eyes (28 patients) with NA-AION and 28 fellow eyes, considered as controls, between 2014 and 2020. A complete examination with visual field (VF), visual acuity (VA) and optical coherence tomography was performed at baseline and after 1, 3 and 6 months. Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and GCC layer thickness were evaluated at each visit. |
Results | A total of 28 patients were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 59±11 years (57.1% were male). At presentation, mean (±SD) RNFL thickness in patients with NA-AION was 227.4 (±72.1) and 92,6 µm (±9.0) in the fellow eyes (p<0.05). At 6 months, a significant decrease was observed in the pathologic eyes (64.9 (±10.4) µm). GCC layer thickness at presentation and at 6 months in the NA-AION eyes were 60.3 ± 24.4 and 61.9 ±10.4 µm, respectively, a non significant difference. When compared to the fellow eyes (80.4±6.5, p<0,0001), we observed a significant reduction of the GCC thickness corresponding to a loss of 24.3% in average (range: 5-42.6%). Moreover, a negative correlation (r=-0,64) is observed between the VF defect and the GCC thickness. |
Conclusion | After an episode of NA-AION, we observed a significant decrease of GCC thickness compared to the fellow eye, which is correlated to the visual field defect. |
Conflict of interest | No |
Last name | CHAPELLE |
Initials | A |
Department | CHU de Liège |
City | Liège |
Last name | RAKIC |
Initials | JM |
Department | CHU de Liège |
City | Liège |
Last name | PLANT |
Initials | GT |
Department | Moorfields Eye Hospital |
City | London |