Study on correlation of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in Optical Coherence Tomography with visual outcome in optic neuritis

AIM OF THE STUDY: To correlate visual outcome in patients with optic neuritis in relation to changes in the form of RNFL thinning in OCT. Sample size: 25 patients. Place of study: Regional institute of ophthalmology, Government Ophthalmic Hospital, Chennai. Duration of Study: One year. METHODOLOGY: Patients reporting with Optic neuritis to the RIO-GOH were registered, evaluated with SD OCT-SLO and other parameters and managed primarily with ONTT regimen and followed up during the study period of one year. SUMMARY: We had done this study to correlate the with RNFL thickness with visual acuity of patients after an attack of optic neuritis. All patients who presented to our OPD with acute unilateral painful visual loss, colour desaturation and RAPD with fundus features suggestive of optic neuritis were treated with IV methyl prednisolone followed by oral prednisolone after investigations and neurologist opinion. OCT-SLO was done on all patients after disc edema\ud stabilizes. The RNFL thickness measured and compared with the fellow eye. It is found that there is thinning of RNFL in all patients on affected side when compared to unaffected fellow eye. We also found that the thinning was more marked in those who improved less with treatment and in optic atrophy. Hence OCT can be used as a tool in patients with optic neuritis to quantify axonal loss after an attack of optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: There was thinning of RNFL (Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness) in all patients after an attack of optic neuritis and more thinning of RNFL was noted in patients who developed optic atrophy and in patients who gained less vision after treatment