Optical Coherence Tomography Assisted Retinal Nerve Fibre Layer Thickness Profile in High Myopia

Introduction: To evaluate the association of high myopia with retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness by Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD OCT). Materials and Methods: Fifty highly myopic eyes (25 patients) and forty emmetropic eyes (20 Normal subject) were randomly selected after excluding concomitant ophthalmic disorder and RNFL thickness measured using the Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD OCT). Results: The overall mean RNFL thickness in the myopic groups and control were 87.89 mu m and 111.64 mu m respectively. The mean retinal nerve fibre thickness was significantly less in myopic eyes as compared to control group (p = 0.0001). Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness shows topographic double hump pattern in both the groups (myopes and emmetropes). Conclusion: Retinal nerve fibre thickness was significantly less in myopic eyes as compared to emmetropic eyes. The retinal nerve fibre layer thinning in high myopes may be confused with open angle glaucoma, a disease also prevalent in high myopes. There is therefore a need to have retinal nerve fibre layer thickness normogram for high myopes of a given population group to avoid wrong interpretation.