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Updated: Nov 30, 2025
Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo
Published on: September 22, 2017
Thinner temporal peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer in Stargardt disease detected by optical coherence
Michael Reich1, Jan Lübke1, Lutz Joachimsen1
1Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany.
Purpose:
To evaluate peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with Stargardt disease (STGD).
Methods:
A cross-sectional, monocentric, observational case-control study. Twenty patients (39 eyes) with ABCA4 mutations graded according to the Fishman STGD classification were included. RNFL measurement was performed using Heidelberg Spectralis SD-OCT. RNFL thickness in STGD patients was compared to age-matched data of healthy individuals provided by the device's manufacturer. A manual readjustment of the optic disc-fovea angle was performed when needed.
Results:
The mean age at first diagnosis of STGD was 22.9 years (range 9 to 50) and 39.1 years (range 18 to 74) at the time of examination. Thirty-nine percent of eyes (15 eyes) needed manual adjustment of the optic disc-fovea angle due to malfixation of the patients during OCT. The temporal quadrant corresponding to the macula showed a RNFL 16% thinner than controls (mean - 12 μm, 95%CI - 9 to -15 μm). However, global RNFL thickness did not differ from controls due to increased RNFL thickness of 12% in the nasal sectors. Duration and stage of STGD were not correlated to thinner RNFL.
Conclusion:
STGD seems to be associated with thinner peripapillary RNFL in the sector of axons projecting to the degenerated macular area. It is yet unclear as to whether this results from anterograde transneuronal degeneration of direct injury to retinal ganglion cells.
