title: Three-dimensional geometries representing the retinal nerve fiber layer in multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, and healthy eyes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To represent and interpret the three-dimensional (3D) geometry and the distribution of the axonal damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with healthy subjects. To analyze alterations in RNFL morphology in eyes of MS patients with or without previous episodes of optic neuritis (ON).
  
  
  METHODS
  MS patients (n = 122) and age-matched healthy subjects (n = 108) were enrolled. The Spectralis optical coherence tomography system was used to determine the circumpapillary RNFL thickness. The 768 RNFL thickness measurements were used to evaluate thickness measurements in patients with or without antecedent ON and to design a 3D reconstruction of the RNFL thickness representing the mechanobiologic tissue response to neurodegeneration caused by MS and ON episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RNFL thickness was decreased in MS patients, and was higher in the MS group with previous ON. Statistical analysis and 3D RNFL reconstruction revealed greater damage to the ganglionar cells in the superonasal RNFL area (101.77 µm in MS vs. 125.47 µm in healthy subjects) and in the inferotemporal RNFL (119.05 µm in MS eyes and 149.26 µm in healthy eyes).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 3D representation of RNFL thickness based on measurements allows physicians to better observe damage in the temporal areas, especially in patients with previous ON.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza, Spain. vivax@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Martin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malvè
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fuertes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferreras
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Larrosa
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Polo
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Pablo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000473:pathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D055815:Young Adult