EVALUATION OF RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER THICKNESS USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OCT IN HIGH MYOPES

Abstract

Hypothesis: The aim of the study is the evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness using spectral domain oct in high myopes

Design of the Study: Cross Sectional Observational study.

Study Duration: 06 months from June 2024 to November 2024

Location of Study: Department of Ophthalmology, CMH Lahore.

Methods: 120 patients were inducted in the study, which assessed RNFL thickness in high myopes using SD-OCT over six months. Participants underwent full ophthalmic evaluation, and only high-quality scans were analyzed. One eye per subject was included, with statistical comparisons done in SPSS 26 and p-value<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: There was a decrease in average RNFL thickness in high myopic individuals accompanied by superior and inferior quadrant thinning and relative temporal sparing. There was negative correlation between axial length and RNFL thickness and a positive correlation between spherical equivalent and RNFL thickness. A majority of the participants (68) were in the 5th percentile or below in at least one quadrant, which shows that there are remarkable changes in RNFL in high myopia.

Conclusion: The axial elongation is associated with high myopia, which is accompanied by severe RNFL thinning, both superiorly and inferiorly. These structural variations must be interpreted carefully and SD-OCT is important in the assessment.