Evaluation of Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, and Optic Nerve Head Parameters in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study are to assess the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients compared to healthy subjects.
METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight eyes from 64 patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Eighty-two eyes of 41 MS patients and 46 eyes of 23 healthy subjects were examined. PPCT and RNFL were measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). PPCT was measured from the four quadrants around the optic disc at a distance of 1 mm (PPCT-1) and 2 mm (PPCT-2) from the edge of the ONH and the beginning of the retinal pigment epithelium. ONH parameters were measured with Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT-3). Disease duration, the number of episodes, MS subtypes, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were recorded.
RESULTS: The RNFL measurements and the mean PPCT-1 and PPCT-2 were significantly lower in MS patients compared to healthy individuals. PPCT-1 and PPCT-2 were measured as the thickest in the temporal quadrant, followed by the superior, nasal, and inferior quadrants, respectively, in both groups. When the ONH parameters were evaluated, cup/disc area ratio, cup area, and cup volume values were significantly higher, whereas optic rim volume and rim area values were significantly lower in MS patients compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). We observed significant changes in RNFL and ONH parameters of MS patients in parallel with disease severity determined by EDSS scores and the presence of optic neuritis.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There were significant changes in RNFL thickness, PPCT, and ONH parameters when MS patients were compared with healthy subjects. Assessment of RNFL and PPCT with OCT and ONH with HRT-3 may be useful in the follow-up of MS patients.