Assessment of peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in myopic patients and its correlation with axial length and degree of myopia

Authors: Dr.Pooja Sri.S, Dr.S.Sozhama devi, Dr.Arthi Kulasekaran, Dr. K. Ezhil Vendhan

DOI: 10.18231/j.ijceo.11024.1761971964

Keywords: Myopia, axial length, RNFL thickness, OCT

Abstract: Aim & objectives: To evaluate peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in myopic individuals and to correlate it with axial length and severity of myopia. Materials & methods: A comprehensive eye examination, including refraction, axial length measurement, and retinal nerve fibre layer thickness assessment, was performed on 60 myopic patients who were seen in the ophthalmology outpatient department at a tertiary hospital. The patients were divided into two groups; Group A included patients with AL ≤24 mm and Group B AL >24 mm. Based on the degree of myopia, they were divided into three classes: low (<−3D), moderate (−3D to −6D), and high (>−6D) myopia. Results: The research included 120 eyes with myopia between -0.75 D and -18.50 D. The mean (±SD) age was 22.93 ± 5.230 years, ranging from 18 to 40 years. The gender breakdown comprised 32 men (53.3%) and 28 women (46.7%). No statistically significant difference was seen in the average peripapillary RNFL thickness between the two groups (P = 0.749), with group A exhibiting a thickness of 104.95 (±10.702) and group B 102.11 (±12.024); nevertheless, group B showed a reduction in RNFL thickness relative to group A. A statistically significant difference was observed in the average RNFL thickness among the three myopia groups, with moderate myopia having the highest RNFL thickness and high myopia the lowest (P = 0.000). The mean RNFL thickness was 104.55 (±8.921) for the low myopia group, 106.71 (±10.875) for the moderate myopia group, and 94.40 (±12.937) for the high myopia group. Conclusion: There is a significant decrease in RNFL thickness with an increase in myopia and axial length. This polar RNFL thinning could be wrongly attributed to glaucomatous change. We recommend carefully interpreting RNFL data in myopes with axial length >24 mm when applying the current OCT nomograms.