The Effect of beta-Thalassemia Minor on the Optic Nerve Head Analysis.

Abstract Background: A variety of ophthalmologic findings have been reported in patients with anemia. Aim: To determine the effect of beta-thalassemia minor on the optic nerve head topographic analysis. Methods: A total of 39 beta-thalassemia minor patients were divided into 2 groups. Patients with iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 deficiency were ruled out. Group 1 comprised 20 patients with anemia, and group 2 comprised 19 patients without anemia. One eye of each patient was included into the study. All subjects underwent complete ocular examination. Optic nerve head topographic analysis was performed by using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope type Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT). The following stereometric parameters were evaluated: disc area, area and volume of cup, area and volume of neuroretinal rim, measure of cup shape, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Results: The mean age of group 1 and 2 were 26.8±7.6 and 25.6±4.5 years, respectively (P=0.91). Their mean disc areas were 2.01±0.3 mm2 and 2.53±0.6 mm2, respectively (P =0.009). The differences between groups for area and volume of cup, area and volume of neuroretinal rim, cup shape measure, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were insignificant (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between mean intraocular pressure of both groups (p=0.93). Conclusion: In beta-thalassemia minor, patients with anemia, optic disc area showed a statistically significant reduction compared to the patients without anemia. Further clinical trials on ocular blood flow and optic nerve oxygenation changes may highlight the role anemia in the optic nerve head of the beta-thalassemia minor patients.

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Comparing characteristics of the optic nerve head among subjects with suspected glaucoma in different ages of onset

Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo ◽

10.2298/sarh170222144m ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 146 (3-4) ◽

pp. 136-142

Author(s):

Vesna Maric ◽

Vujica Markovic ◽

Marija Bozic ◽

Ivan Marjanovic

Keyword(s):

Optic Nerve ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Layer Thickness ◽

Optic Disc ◽

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer ◽

Optic Nerve Head ◽

Fiber Layer ◽

Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness ◽

Neuroretinal Rim ◽

Disc Area

Introduction/Objective. Evaluation of the optic nerve head (ONH) is an inevitable procedure in the diagnosis of glaucoma. One of the most common imaging techniques for a quantitative assessment of the topography of the ONH is the Heidelberg retinal tomography II (HRT II). The aim of this study was to determine quantitative stereometric parameters of the ONH by using the HRT II and to investigate any damage of neuroretinal rim in children with suspected glaucoma and compared these data with the group of adults with suspected glaucoma. Methods. This comparative study included 167 (167 eyes) children aged 11?3 years with suspected juvenile glaucoma and 175 adult participants (175 eyes), aged 60?3 years, also with suspected glaucoma, examined between January 2013 and April 2014. Optic nerve head topography and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements were assessed using a HRT II. Results. Data analysis in this study showed that the average mean values for children/adults were: disc area (mm2) 2.828?0.489/2.663?0.412 (p<0.001); rim area (mm2) 1.873?0.391/1.667?0.275 (p<0.001); cup/disc area ratio 0.369?0.125/0.369?0.101 (p=0.530); mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (mm) 0.223?0.078/0.219?0.055 (p=0.494). Statistically significant difference in damage of neuroretinal rim, between children and adults, was found in temporal (T) and temporal-inferior (Ti) segments. Conclusions. There were differences in some of the investigated quantitative parameters of the ONH between children and adults, as optic disc size, cup and rim area and rim volume. By using MRA, difference in the damage of the neuroretinal rim, when comparing children and adult optic discs appeared only in T and Ti segments, which means that optic disc cupping has spread more in children than in adults.

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