Abstract
Purpose. Glaucoma damages the retinal never fiber layer (RNFL). RNFL thickness, measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), is often used in clinical assessment of the damage. In this study the relation between the RNFL reflectance and thickness at early stages of glaucoma was investigated. Methods. A rat model of glaucoma was used that involved laser photocoagulation of the trabecular meshwork. The reflectance of the RNFL in an isolated retina was measured, followed by immunohistochemical staining of the axonal cytoskeleton. RNFL thickness was measured by confocal fluorescence imaging. RNFL reflectance was calculated for bundle areas located at radii of 0.22, 0.33, and 0.44 mm from the optic nerve head (ONH) center. Linear regression was used to study the relation between reflectance and thickness. For glaucomatous eyes, only those bundles with no apparent structural damage were used. Results. Bundles in 11 control retinas and 10 treated retinas were examined. Bundle thickness of both groups at each radius was similar (P = 0.89). The reflectance of the bundles at radii of 0.33 and 0.44 mm was found to be similar in both control and treated retinas (P > 0.5). However, the reflectance of the bundles at the 0.22-mm radius decreased significantly in the treated group (P = 0.005). Conclusions. Elevation of intraocular pressure causes decrease in RNFL reflectance for bundles near the ONH. Change in RNFL reflectance precedes thinning of the RNFL. The results suggest that a decrease in RNFL reflectance near the ONH is an early sign of glaucomatous damage.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6737-6742 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1 2011 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Reflectance decreases before thickness changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer in glaucomatous retinas. / Huang, XiangRun; Zhou, Ye; Kong, Wei; Knighton, Robert W.
In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 52, No. 9, 01.08.2011, p. 6737-6742.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Reflectance decreases before thickness changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer in glaucomatous retinas
AU - Huang, XiangRun
AU - Zhou, Ye
AU - Kong, Wei
AU - Knighton, Robert W.
PY - 2011/8/1
Y1 - 2011/8/1
N2 - Purpose. Glaucoma damages the retinal never fiber layer (RNFL). RNFL thickness, measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), is often used in clinical assessment of the damage. In this study the relation between the RNFL reflectance and thickness at early stages of glaucoma was investigated. Methods. A rat model of glaucoma was used that involved laser photocoagulation of the trabecular meshwork. The reflectance of the RNFL in an isolated retina was measured, followed by immunohistochemical staining of the axonal cytoskeleton. RNFL thickness was measured by confocal fluorescence imaging. RNFL reflectance was calculated for bundle areas located at radii of 0.22, 0.33, and 0.44 mm from the optic nerve head (ONH) center. Linear regression was used to study the relation between reflectance and thickness. For glaucomatous eyes, only those bundles with no apparent structural damage were used. Results. Bundles in 11 control retinas and 10 treated retinas were examined. Bundle thickness of both groups at each radius was similar (P = 0.89). The reflectance of the bundles at radii of 0.33 and 0.44 mm was found to be similar in both control and treated retinas (P > 0.5). However, the reflectance of the bundles at the 0.22-mm radius decreased significantly in the treated group (P = 0.005). Conclusions. Elevation of intraocular pressure causes decrease in RNFL reflectance for bundles near the ONH. Change in RNFL reflectance precedes thinning of the RNFL. The results suggest that a decrease in RNFL reflectance near the ONH is an early sign of glaucomatous damage.
AB - Purpose. Glaucoma damages the retinal never fiber layer (RNFL). RNFL thickness, measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT), is often used in clinical assessment of the damage. In this study the relation between the RNFL reflectance and thickness at early stages of glaucoma was investigated. Methods. A rat model of glaucoma was used that involved laser photocoagulation of the trabecular meshwork. The reflectance of the RNFL in an isolated retina was measured, followed by immunohistochemical staining of the axonal cytoskeleton. RNFL thickness was measured by confocal fluorescence imaging. RNFL reflectance was calculated for bundle areas located at radii of 0.22, 0.33, and 0.44 mm from the optic nerve head (ONH) center. Linear regression was used to study the relation between reflectance and thickness. For glaucomatous eyes, only those bundles with no apparent structural damage were used. Results. Bundles in 11 control retinas and 10 treated retinas were examined. Bundle thickness of both groups at each radius was similar (P = 0.89). The reflectance of the bundles at radii of 0.33 and 0.44 mm was found to be similar in both control and treated retinas (P > 0.5). However, the reflectance of the bundles at the 0.22-mm radius decreased significantly in the treated group (P = 0.005). Conclusions. Elevation of intraocular pressure causes decrease in RNFL reflectance for bundles near the ONH. Change in RNFL reflectance precedes thinning of the RNFL. The results suggest that a decrease in RNFL reflectance near the ONH is an early sign of glaucomatous damage.
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U2 - 10.1167/iovs.11-7665
DO - 10.1167/iovs.11-7665
M3 - Article
C2 - 21730345
AN - SCOPUS:80053236473
VL - 52
SP - 6737
EP - 6742
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
SN - 0146-0404
IS - 9
ER -