Macular ganglion cell layer abnormalities in Spectral Domain (SD)–OCT outside glaucomatous neuropathy

Abstract

PurposeMacular ganglion cell layer (GCL) analysis in OCT spectralis is increasingly used in ophthalmology in the detection and monitoring of chronic glaucoma.MethodsAn analysis of GCL in SD‐OCT (Spectralis®) is reported in 7 patients with no chronic glaucoma: 3 patients with maculopathy and 4 patients with neurological pathology.Maculopathies were as follows: atrophic age related macular degeneration, occluded central venous branch of the retina, epiretinal membrane surgery.The neurological pathologies include: multiple sclerosis, stroke complicated hemianopsia lateral homonymous, macro‐ pituitary adenoma complicated bitemporal hemianopia and acute anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.A thickness map in microns correlated to a color scale is confronted with the multimodal imagery and visual field.ResultsAll patients have localized or diffuse thinning GCL. Structural damage correlated to the functional damage in neurological pathologies. Maculopathies are also involved in GCL damage and should not be confused with an original glaucomatous damage.ConclusionsGCL abnormalities are not specifics for chronic glaucoma, we can find them in maculopathies, central nervous system pathologies and optic neuropathies.