Use of Fourier-domain OCT to detect retinal nerve fiber layer degeneration in Parkinson’s disease patients

Abstract

Purpose To demonstrate axonal loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to evaluate the ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect RNFL degeneration and retinal thinning in these patients. Methods PD patients (n ¼ 100) and healthy subjects (n ¼ 100) were included in the study and underwent visual acuity, color vision, and OCT examinations using two nextgeneration Fourier-domain devices (Spectralis and Cirrus). Differences in the RNFL thicknesses were compared between patients and controls. Results RNFL thicknesses were significantly reduced in PD patients compared with healthy subjects, especially those obtained using the Spectralis OCT, in the inferotemporal quadrant (155.6 ± 16.5 lm in healthy eyes vs 142.1 ± 24.9 lm in patients, P ¼ 0.040) and in the superotemporal quadrant (142.6±20.9 lm in healthy eyes vs 132.77±18.6 lm in PD patients, P ¼ 0.046). Significant differences were observed between controls and patients in relation to mean macular thickness (P ¼ 0.031), foveal thickness (P ¼ 0.030), and inferior outer thickness (P ¼ 0.019). Conclusion PD is associated with RNFL loss and retinal thinning, which is detectable by Fourier-domain OCT measurements.

Characterization of retinal architecture in Parkinson's disease

“…A possible approach to investigate these inconsistent findings would be to study the same patients on different types of OCT machines using identical methodology. One study comparing the measurements obtained from two different OCT machines examining the same subjects, demonstrated consistently thicker peripapillary RNFL and retinal layers with one of the two machines used in that study [23]. This further highlights the need for a standardized methodological approach that may unify OCT observations supported by disease pathology in PD.…”

“…Within the past few years, there has been a significant focus on intraretinal segmentation in OCT studies in PD [17,[23][24][25]. The primary findings of these studies are summarized in Table 2.…”

Optical coherence tomography findings in Huntington’s disease: a potential biomarker of disease progression

“…In the past 15 years, the potential role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements as biomarkers of disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders, particularly multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, neuromyelitis optica and Parkinson's disease, has been widely investigated [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. OCT measurements are frequently used in observational studies, clinical practice and, more recently, therapeutic trials, with the number of studies in this area increasing exponentially over the last 5 years [21,25].…”

Electrophysiology and Optical Coherence Tomography to Evaluate Parkinson Disease Severity

“…5 The RPE can be measured using digital imaging technologies such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), which provide cross-sectional images of the retina and the optic disc in a noninvasive, rapid, objective, and reproducible manner for the evaluation of eye structure thickness and volume. 6,7 OCT is used to detect and measure ganglion cell loss in neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis 8 and PD, 7 and is considered a useful tool for evaluating the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the retinal layers (including the RPE) in several systemic and ophthalmic diseases. 9,10 Foveal vision is one of the affected nonmotor systems in PD.…”