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. 2017 Mar 11;17(1):22.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-017-0419-1.

Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness according to myopia and optic disc area: a quantitative and three-dimensional analysis

Sam Seo  1 , Chong Eun Lee  2 , Jae Hoon Jeong  3 , Ki Ho Park  4 , Dong Myung Kim  4 , Jin Wook Jeoung  5
Affiliations

Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness according to myopia and optic disc area: a quantitative and three-dimensional analysis

Sam Seo et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: To determine the influences of myopia and optic disc size on ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness profiles obtained by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight eyes of 168 young myopic subjects were recruited and assigned to one of three groups according to their spherical equivalent (SE) values and optic disc area. All underwent Cirrus HD-OCT imaging. The influences of myopia and optic disc size on the GCIPL and RNFL thickness profiles were evaluated by multiple comparisons and linear regression analysis. Three-dimensional surface plots of GCIPL and RNFL thickness corresponding to different combinations of myopia and optic disc size were constructed.

Results: Each of the quadrant RNFL thicknesses and their overall average were significantly thinner in high myopia compared to low myopia, except for the temporal quadrant (all Ps ≤0.003). The average and all-sectors GCIPL were significantly thinner in high myopia than in moderate- and/or low-myopia (all Ps ≤0.002). The average OCT RNFL thickness was correlated significantly with SE (0.81 μm/diopter, P < 0.001), axial length (-1.44 μm/mm, P < 0.001), and optic disc area (5.35 μm/mm2, P < 0.001) by linear regression analysis. As for the OCT GCIPL parameters, average GCIPL thickness showed a significant correlation with SE (0.84 μm/diopter, P < 0.001) and axial length (-1.65 μm/mm, P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation of average GCIPL thickness with optic disc area. Three-dimensional curves showed that larger optic discs were associated with increased average RNFL thickness and that more-myopic eyes were associated with decreased average GCIPL and RNFL thickness.

Conclusion: Myopia can significantly affect GCIPL and RNFL thickness profiles, and optic disc size has a significant influence on RNFL thickness. The current OCT maps employed in the evaluation of glaucoma should be analyzed in consideration of refractive status and optic disc size.

Keywords: Ganglion cell inner plexiform layer; Myopia; Optic disc size; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal nerve fiber layer.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison of Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) clock-hour retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness profiles (a) among low-, moderate- and high-myopia groups and (b) among small-, medium- and large-disc groups. Comparison of Cirrus OCT ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness profiles (c) among low-, moderate- and high-myopia groups and (d) among small-, medium- and large-disc groups I, inferior sector; IN, inferonasal sector; IT, inferotemporal sector; S, superior sector; SN, superonasal sector, ST, superotemporal sector
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Scatterplot of simple linear regression between average RNFL thickness and (a) spherical equivalent (SE) (p < 0.001), (b) axial length (p < 0.001), (c) optic disc area (p < 0.001). Scatterplot showing average GCIPL thickness against (d) SE (p < 0.001), (e) axial length (p < 0.001), (f) optic disc area (p = 0.895)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Relationship of SE and/or optic disc area with average RNFL thickness. The RNFL thickness graph shows an RNFL decrease associated with a combination of high myopia and small optic disc area. Also, the effect of the optic disc area on RNFL is more pronounced than that of the SE. b Relationship of SE and/or optic disc area with average GCIPL thickness. The GCIPL thickness graph slopes from the highest point in low myopia to the lowest point in high myopia. This reflects the correlation of GCIPL thickness decrease with myopic degree
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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