Thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer, macular thickness, and macular volume in patients with strabismic amblyopia

Abstract

Objective: To compare the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the macular volume, and the macular thickness of the amblyopic eye with those of the non-amblyopic eye in patients with unilateral strabismic amblyopia using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Patients and methods: OCT was performed for 14 patients with unilateral strabismic amblyopia who had no neurologic disease. Nine male and 5 female patients, whose ages ranged from 5 to 18 years, were enrolled in the study. The RNFL thickness average analysis program was used to evaluate mean superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal thickness. The data for all clock quadrants (12 values averaged) were identified as the overall RNFL. The retinal thickness and volume analysis program was used to evaluate macular scans. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results: The mean age (+/- standard deviation) was 10.43 years (+/- 4.09 years). There were 6 right eyes and 8 left eyes with amblyopia; this group had a mean visual acuity (+/- standard error) of 0.3 (+/- 5.70). OCT parameters including the RNFL thickness in all quadrants, overall RNFL thickness, macular thickness, and macular volume showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > .05).

Conclusion: Assessment of RNFL thickness, macular thickness, and macular volume with OCT revealed no difference between the two eyes of patients with unilateral strabismic amblyopia.