The Structure-Function Relationship between Macular Morphology and Visual Function Analyzed by Optical Coherence...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal imaging
• Vision science

Background:

• Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive vision loss.
• Understanding the relationship between retinal structure and visual function is crucial for managing RP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between specific macular microstructures and visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Main Methods:

• Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and Goldmann perimetry were employed on 100 RP patients.
• Measurements included preserved photoreceptor outer segment (PROS) length and area, visual field area (VFA), and various retinal thicknesses (IRT, ORT, SFCT, CRT).

Main Results:

• Visual field area (VFA) showed significant relationships with central retinal thickness (CRT), outer retinal thickness (ORT), and PROS length/area.
• Visual acuity was significantly correlated with CRT, ORT, inner retinal thickness (IRT), and PROS length/area.
• Multiple linear regression identified PROS horizontal length as the primary correlate of VFA and ORT as the primary correlate of visual acuity.

Conclusions:

• Preserved photoreceptor outer segment (PROS) horizontal length and outer retina thickness (ORT) are the most significant macular microstructural correlates of visual field area and visual acuity, respectively, in RP.
• Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) did not demonstrate a significant relationship with visual function in this cohort.