Difference in optic nerve parameters and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the eyes of normal and amblyopic Filipino children

ABSTRACT

Background@#Optical coherence tomography (OCT) can accurately assess the optic nerve and retinal fiber layer (RNFL) to closely look at the anatomical ocular pathology of amblyopia. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to determine and compare optic nerve parameters and RNFL in amblyopic and normal Filipino children using OCT. @*Methodology@#Forty-two eyes of 21 normal participants and 40 eyes of 20 amblyopic participants underwent complete eye examinations and OCT scanning of optic nerve and RNFL. The following data were collected age, refraction, intraocular pressure, optic nerve parameters (including rim area-vertical cross-section, average nerve width, disc diameter, cup diameter, rim length, vertical integrated rim area, horizontal integrated rim width, disc area, rim area, cup area, cup to disk area ratio, cup-to-disk horizontal ratio, cup to disc vertical ratio), and peripapillary RNFL. @*Results@#There was a statistically significant difference between normal and amblyopic groups with regard to the following parameters cup area, rim area, cup-disc area ratio, cup-disc horizontal ratio, cup-disc vertical ratio, superior RNFL, and inferior RNFL. The rim area was significantly smaller in amblyopic eyes compared to normal whereas the cup-disc area ratio, cup area, cup-disc vertical and horizontal ratios were significantly larger in amblyopic eyes. The RNFL inferiorly and superiorly were also thinner in amblyopic eyes. @*Conclusion@#As measured by OCT, some optic nerve parameters and RNFL thickness in Filipino children were significantly different in amblyopic eyes compared to normal.