Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Profile in Myopic Eyes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness profiles associated with myopia. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-seven normal eyes of 67 Korean adults were divided into three groups by spherical equivalent. All subjects were tested with fast RNFL scans of Stratus optical coherence tomography. The angular locations of superior and inferior maximal thickness points in relationship to a reference line drawn horizontally though the center of the scan circle were calculated from the raw data of scanned images (angle alpha, angle beta). Differences of angle alpha and angle beta were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: Angle alpha and angle beta were significantly different in three groups (ANOVA, p<0.001, respectively). Angle alpha and angle beta were also significantly different among the three groups for excluded eyes with tilted discs. CONCLUSIONS: The points of superior and inferior maximal peripapillary RNFL thickness were significantly different in three groups divided by spherical equivalent. As myopia becomes more severe, superior and inferior maximal peripapillary RNFL thickness points are located closer to the fovea.