OCT Findings in Patients with Methamphetamine Use Disorder

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is associated with various neurological and systemic complications.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows for detailed assessment of retinal layers.
• Previous research has explored the ocular manifestations of substance use disorders, but specific OCT findings in MUD require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements, specifically retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness, between patients diagnosed with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and healthy controls.
• To explore potential correlations between OCT findings and addiction severity in patients with MUD.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 27 patients with MUD and 30 healthy controls were included, with 114 eyes evaluated in total.
• Standard ophthalmological examinations were performed, followed by OCT imaging to assess RNFL and macular thickness.
• Statistical analyses were conducted to compare OCT parameters between groups and to correlate findings with addiction severity scores (APIS).

Main Results:

• No significant demographic differences were observed between the MUD and control groups.
• Macular thickness and volume did not differ significantly between patients with MUD and controls.
• Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements in the superior, inferior, temporal, nasal quadrants, and total RNFL were significantly thicker in the left eyes of MUD patients compared to controls.
• Correlations were found between specific RNFL measurements, macular thickness, and addiction severity subscale scores.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first to report on OCT findings in conjunction with addiction severity in MUD patients.
• The observed differences in RNFL thickness suggest that OCT may be a valuable tool for detecting potential neurodegeneration associated with methamphetamine use.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and establish OCT as a reliable method for monitoring neurodegenerative changes in MUD.