Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Changes in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Compared to Healthy...

This study investigated changes in retinal nerve fiber layers (RNFL) in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to healthy control patients, using optical coherence tomography.

PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for published articles comparing RNFL between patients with COPD and healthy controls. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed to compare continuous variables.

Average RNFL thickness was significantly reduced in COPD patients compared to healthy controls (SMD = -0.31, 95% CI = -0.48 to -0.14, P = 0.0004, I² = 0%). Average RNFL thickness did not differ significantly between patients with mild/moderate COPD and healthy controls (SMD = -0.17, 95% CI = -0.39 to 0.04, P = 0.12, I² = 2%), while a statistically significant reduction in average RNFL thickness was noticed in patients with severe COPD compared to healthy controls (SMD = -0.72, 95% CI = -1.23 to -0.21, P = 0.006, I² = 83%). Average RNFL thickness was significantly higher in patients with mild/moderate COPD compared to patients with severe COPD (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.29 to 1.09, P = 0.0008, I² = 66%).

This meta-analysis showed that RNFL thickness was decreased in patients with COPD compared to healthy controls. Patients diagnosed with severe COPD seem to be more affected and have thinner RNFL. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2024;55:334-342.].