Macular changes of neuromyelitis optica through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

AIM: To evaluate the thickness of the retinal layers in the macula using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). METHODS: Spectralis SD-OCT, utilizing automated macular layer segmentation, was performed in 26 NMO patients and 26 healthy controls. Visual function including visual field tests and pattern visual evoked potential were recorded in study subjects. RESULTS: Forty-one eyes from 26 NMO patients and 52 eyes from 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Besides total macular volume, peri-paipillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, the thickness of macular RNFL, ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner plexiform layer (IPL) were also significantly reduced in NMO patients compared to those inhealthy controls (P<0.000). No differences were found in the thickness of macular inner nuclear layer (INL), outer plexiform layer (OPL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) between the two groups. Reversely, the outer retinal layer (ORL) was shown to be thicker in NMO than controls (P