Early axonal damage detection by ganglion cell complex analysis with optical coherence tomography in nonarteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy

Abstract

GCC thickness measurement by OCT is capable of detecting early axonal damage in NAION eyes in the acute phase that cannot be detected by RNFL. GCC defects are significantly correlated with visual field globally and the defect location.

Early macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer analysis in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

“…These results differed from those of previous studies, which reported that late pRNFL and mGCIPL thickness showed a regional correlation with late VF defects [7,14]. Larrea et al, however, reported that regional correlations between mGCIPL thickness in the chronic stage of NAION and the final VF defect were not significant [12]. We agree with their opinion that GCL damage becomes more severe and diffuse with time, and that increasing damage to internal plexus layer cells, such as glial cells, is possible.…”

“…These studies showed that loss of the macular ganglion cell complex in the late phase correlated well with VF loss in both magnitude and location. Only one study has investigated mGCIPL loss in the early phase (6 weeks or less after the acute episode) of NAION [12]. This study reported that 54.5 % of the patients examined showed pRNFL thinning and 77.3 % showed mGCIPL thinning in the early phase.…”

“…SD-OCT has produced valuable images for identifying and monitoring peripapillary retina nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in various forms of optic neuropathy, including NAION [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Studies using SD-OCT to investigate the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) in the eyes of patients with NAION have been reported [11,12].…”

“…Only one study has investigated a regional correlation between GCIPL thinning in the acute phase and the location of the VF defect in the acute and chronic phases of NAION [12]. However, these studies were unable to show any period of GCIPL and pRNFL thinning in the early phase of NAION.…”

Optical Coherence Tomography and Optic Nerve Edema

“…Using Fourier-domain OCT, Aggarwal et al showed high correlation of the macular GCC thickness with visual fi eld losses in both magnitude and location in patients with NAION, with hemispheric GCC loss correlating with altitudinal visual fi eld loss [ 29 ]. Larrea et al showed a signifi cant correlation between GCC averages at the onset of NAION and visual fi eld losses in both acute and chronic stages, suggesting that GCC thickness in the acute stage may be a determining factor to predict fi nal visual fi eld defects, with good correlation between location of damage in the GCC in the macular region and location of the scotoma [ 31 ].…”