Abstract :
Aims & Objective: To evaluate the correlation between peripapillary RNFL thickness and the severity of myopia. To determine the variations in peripapillary RNFL thickness with the age and duration of myopia using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.Materials and Methods: Our study was a hospital-based observational cross-sectional study with 88 myopic patients between 18-40 years of age. The study included 88 eyes in each group (low myopia ? -3D and moderate to high myopia > -3D), and all subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination. We evaluated the thickness of RNFL using SD-OCT in both groups in all quadrants. Data obtained was entered in the software Epi info version 7.2.1.0. and was analysed using SPSS software version 24.0. A paired t-test was used to compare mean changes in RNFL thickness between the low and moderate to high myopes. The association between the changes in RNFL thickness and other variables were assessed using the Chi-square test. A probability value (P value) < 0.05 is considered statistically significant.Results: RNFL thickness was less in the moderate to high myopia group than in the low myopia group (P value- 0.000). In both the groups, RNFL thinning was observed with increasing duration of myopia (P value- 0.000). However, RNFL thinning with increasing age was observed only in the low myopia group (P value- 0.018). Glaucomatous changes were not appreciated in both groups.Conclusion: The RNFL thickness varies with severity of myopia. The thinning of RNFL in myopes should not always be attributed to glaucoma.
Keyword :
Myopia, Glaucoma, Optical coherence tomography, Retinal nerve fiber layer.