Changes in volume of various retinal layers over time in early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration

To evaluate longitudinally volume changes in inner and outer retinal layers in early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to healthy control eyes using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

71 eyes with AMD and 31 control eyes were imaged at two time points: baseline and after 2 years. Automated OCT layer segmentation was performed using Orion^TM. This software is able to measure volumes of retinal layers with distinct boundaries including Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer (RNFL), Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer (GCIPL), Inner Nuclear Layer (INL), Outer Plexiform Layer (OPL), Outer Nuclear Layer (ONL), Photoreceptors (PR) and Retinal Pigment Epithelium-Bruch's Membrane complex (RPE-BM). The mean retinal layer volumes and volume changes at 2 years were compared between groups.

Mean GCIPL and INL volumes were lower, while PR and RPE-BM volumes were higher in AMD eyes than controls at baseline (all P < 0.05) and year 2 (all P < 0.05). In AMD eyes, RNFL and ONL volumes decreased by 0.0232 (P = 0.033) and 0.0851 (P = 0.001), respectively. In contrast, OPL and RPE-BM volumes increased in AMD eyes by 0.0391 (P = 0.000) and 0.0209 (P = 0.000) respectively. Moreover, there were significant differences in longitudinal volume change of OPL (P = 0.02), ONL (P = 0.008) and RPE-BM (P = 0.02) between AMD eyes and controls.

There were abnormal retinal layer volumes and volume changes in eyes with early and intermediate AMD.