Association of high myopia with peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with hypertension

To identify the impacts of hypertension (HTN), high myopia, and the combination thereof on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness.

All subjects were divided into four groups: control (group 1); patients with HTN without high myopia (group 2); patients with high myopia without HTN (group 3); and patients with both HTN and high myopia (group 4). The pRNFL thicknesses were compared using a one-way analysis of variance. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify factors affecting pRNFL thickness in subjects with and without HTN.

The mean pRNFL thicknesses were 93.9±8.8, 88.7±6.8, 86.4±8.1, and 82.5±9.6 μm in group 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and differed significantly (P<0.001). On multivariate linear regression analyses, age (β = -0.181, P = 0.044), axial length (β = -1.491, P<0.001), and HTN (β = -4.876, P = 0.044) significantly affected pRNFL thickness. Additionally, age and axial length affected the pRNFL thickness in subjects with HTN (age, β = -0.254, P = 0.020; axial length, β = -1.608, P<0.001) much more than in subjects without HTN (age, β = -0.028, P = 0.712; axial length, β = -1.324, P<0.001).

High myopia and HTN affected pRNFL reduction and a combination of the 2 diseases exacerbated pRNFL damage. This could be a confounding factor in interpreting pRNFL thickness in patients with ophthalmic diseases affecting the pRNFL thickness when combined with the 2 diseases.