Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) Thickness and Its Correlation with High Myopia: A Preliminary Normogram

Abstract

To evaluate the association of high myopia with Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) thickness especially in the peripheral retina after ruling out other causes of RNFL thinning. An observational  cross-section study was conducted. Excluding concomitant ophthalmic diseases we have selected Fifty highly myopic eyes and forty emmetropic eyes for RNFL thickness measurment using the Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD OCT). Average thickness of RNFL in myopic eye was 87.89 and in control eye wass 111.64 micrometer.The overall mean RNFL thickness in the myopic groups and control were 87.89 µm and 111.64 µm respectively. The retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was significantly decreased in myopic eye by 21.22±9.27 %  in ora serrata. (p =0.0000)(r2=0.20). Retinal nerve fibre thickness was significantly decreased in myopic eyes as compared to emmetropic eyes. The peripheral retinal & RNFL of periphery are more stretched and affected in high myopia, but fovea is thickened. Changes of myopia are more appreciable at periphery than at macula. Hence, if we focus on the RNFL of periphery after ruling out other disorder specially open angle glaucoma we get an exclusive correlation of RNFL thickness and high myopia which avoid wrong interpretation.

Keywords: RNFL (Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer), OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), Myopia, Normogram

Cite this Article

Adil Asghar, Abdul Waris, Mousami Malakar, Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL) Thickness and Its Correlation with High Myopia: A Preliminary Normogram. Research and Reviews: Journal of Medical Science and Technology. 2015; 4(2):    31–38p.