Assessment of Retinal Ganglion Cell using Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Photography in Age-related Macular Degeneration

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To determine the loss of ganglion cell layer (GCL) neurons in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) photography was taken in patients with AMD with CNV to assess the presence of RNFL defects in the papillomacular bundle area. Patients with other ocular disorders or a history of previous intraocular surgery or laser treatment were excluded from this study. RESULTS: Eighty-five eyes in 65 patients were included, of which only one (1.2%) showed papillomacular bundle defects in association with CNV. CONCLUSIONS: From this study, the majority of the patients with AMD with CNV had no papillomacular bundle defect, which demonstrates that considerable amount of GCL is maintained in AMD.