Related Experiment Videos
Correlation between retinal nerve fibre layer thickness and optic nerve head size: an optical coherence tomography
G Savini1, M Zanini, V Carelli
1Centro Salus, via Saffi 4H, 40131 Bologna, Italy. giacomo.savini@fastwebnet.it
The British Journal of Ophthalmology
|March 19, 2005
Summary
Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness positively correlates with optic nerve head (ONH) size in healthy individuals. Larger optic discs are associated with thicker RNFL measurements, though the underlying reason requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The optic nerve head (ONH) is a critical structure in the eye, and its size may influence retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.
- Understanding this relationship is important for interpreting RNFL measurements in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between RNFL thickness and ONH size in healthy white subjects using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Main Methods:
- 54 healthy subjects underwent peripapillary RNFL thickness measurement using Stratus OCT (RNFL Thickness 3.4 protocol).
- ONH analysis was performed using Stratus OCT (Fast Optic Disc protocol).
- Mean RNFL values were correlated with ONH parameters (area, horizontal and vertical diameters).
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between RNFL thickness in superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants and optic disc area and horizontal diameter.
- RNFL thickness also correlated positively with vertical disc diameter in the superior and inferior quadrants.
- A strong correlation was observed between the average RNFL thickness and overall ONH size (area, vertical, and horizontal diameters).
Conclusions:
- RNFL thickness measurements increase significantly with larger optic disc sizes.
- The observed increase in RNFL thickness with larger ONH size may be due to an increased number of nerve fibres or proximity of the scan to the disc edge.