Characterization of macular thickness changes in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy by optical coherence tomography

To characterize macular thickness (MT) changes in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) patients by cirrus HD-optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to study the correlation between MT and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Fifty-two eyes from 52 consecutive LHON patients and 14 eyes from 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were scanned by OCT. Affected eyes were classified into five groups according to disease duration (1st group: ≤3 months; 2nd group: 3-6 months; 3rd group: 6-9 months; 4th group: 9-12 months; and 5th group: >12 months). MT was compared and analyzed. The correlation between BCVA and MT was calculated.

Less than six months after LHON onset, the cube average thickness (CAT) and the MT in the superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal quadrants of the inner ring and the MT in the nasal quadrant of the outer ring were decreased (P < 0.005); at 3-6 months onset, the MT of the temporal quadrants of the outer ring was decreased (P = 0.045); after 6 months, the MT was significantly thinner in all measurements (P < 0.01) except for the central ring. The BCVA was significantly different between each group and controls (P < 0.05), but there was no significant correlation among the five groups (P = 0.666). There was no significant correlation between the BCVA and CAT (P = 0.893).

The MT thinned before the retinal nerve fiber layer and this occurred with a particular sequence. Our results provide potential diagnostic information for LHON.