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. 2017 Aug 4:11:1407-1416.
doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S143223. eCollection 2017.

Changes in macular parameters in different types of amblyopia: optical coherence tomography study

Manal Ali Kasem  1 , Amani E Badawi  1
Affiliations

Changes in macular parameters in different types of amblyopia: optical coherence tomography study

Manal Ali Kasem et al. Clin Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate the changes in macular parameters (thickness, volume) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (RNFLT) in different cases of amblyopia versus the normal fellow eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to estimate the relationship of OCT changes with various defined patients' parameters.

Design: This is a prospective, observational, cross-sectional case series.

Methods: The method involved measuring the peripapillary RNFLT, macular thickness, and macular volume via spectral domain (OCT) in different types of amblyopia and comparing with the other fellow eyes. This study was conducted at the Mansoura Ophthalmic Center.

Results: A total of 64 patients with different types of amblyopia were included. The mean central macular thickness (CMT) was 196.2±50.03 µm in the amblyopic eyes versus 167±12.76 µm in the fellow eyes (P=0.000), the mean average macular thickness was 265.80±12.77 µm in the amblyopic eyes versus 259.10±3.09 µm in the fellow eyes (P=0.000), the mean macular volume was 7.59±0.32 mm3 in the amblyopic eyes versus 7.34±0.071 mm3 in the fellow eyes (P=0.002), and the mean global RNFLT was 97.00±11.60 µm in the amblyopic eyes versus 78.50±13.05 µm in the fellow eyes (P=0.029). There was a discrepancy between the different amblyopic types. Age and the axial length were the only independent variables that statistically significantly correlated with the CMT.

Conclusion: The unilateral amblyopic eyes were prone to have a higher CMT and thicker global RNFL compared to those of the sound fellow eyes. Retinal variations between different types of the amblyopia differ from one type to another. The age could be considered as a predictor of the disease worsening and treatment prognosis. Further studies are required to emphasize these results.

Keywords: amblyopia; anisometropia; optical coherence tomography; strabismus.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) The macular diameter map in mm with 9 regions centered around the foveal thickness (blue circle). (B) The macula with six radial lines centered on the fovea, each line equally oriented from the other (30 degrees between).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic illustration of the macular map showing three concentric rings, with the central ring corresponding to the fovea (1 µm diameter), the middle ring corresponding to the perifovea (2 µm diameter), and the outer ring corresponding to the parafovea (3 µm diameter).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean macular thickness in the amblyopic eyes and the fellow normal eyes. There was a significant higher thickness in amblyopic eyes. Abbreviation: CMT, central macular thickness.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The difference in RNFLT in both amblyopic eyes and the normal fellow eyes. Abbreviation: RNFLT, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation of initial AL and SE with 95% CI of the regression line. P=0.000, B=0.489, adjusted R2=0.227, 95% CI =0.173–0.460. The linear regression model: AL (adjusted) =21.626+0.316 (SE). Abbreviations: AL, axial length; SE, spherical equivalent; CI, confidence interval.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Correlation of the age and CMT in amblyopic eyes with 95% CI of the regression line (P=0.002, B=0.831, adjusted R2=0.686, 95% CI =4.701–6.624). Abbreviations: CMT, central macular thickness; CI, confidence interval.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Correlation of the initial AL and CMT in amblyopic eyes with 95% CI of the regression line (P=0.016, B=−0.301, adjusted R2=0.191, 95% CI =−1.050–1.634). Abbreviations: AL, axial length; CMT, central macular thickness; CI, confidence interval.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Correlation of the adjusted AL and CMT in amblyopic eyes with 95% CI of the regression line (P=0.930, B=0.011, adjusted R2=0.016, 95% CI =−13.82–15.10). Abbreviations: AL, axial length; CMT, central macular thickness; CI, confidence interval.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Correlation of the age and CMT in normal fellow eyes with 95% CI of the regression line (P=0.073, B=−0.390, adjusted R2=0.111, 95% CI =−1.44–0.070). Abbreviations: CMT, central macular thickness; CI, confidence interval.
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