title: Optical coherence tomography and visual field findings in patients with Friedreich ataxia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field findings in Friedreich ataxia (FRDA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten eyes of 10 patients with genetically confirmed FRDA were included in this study. Twenty-two eyes of 22 age- and sex-matched volunteers served as controls. All eyes were examined with spectral domain OCT (Retinascan Advanced RS-3000; NIDEK) and Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA II 750; Zeiss-Humphrey Systems).
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCT measurements of the average peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, average peripapillary retinal thickness (RT), and foveal RT showed a statistically significant reduction in patients with FRDA (P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in choroidal thickness. OCT measurements of horizontal cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, vertical C/D ratio, and average cup area were significantly increased in patients with FRDA. Visual acuity was significantly correlated with age at onset (P = 0.021) and average RNFL value (P = 0.045). There was a significant correlation between foveal thickness and disease duration (P = 0.014). Mean RNFL thickness was significantly correlated with the severity of neurological involvement (P = 0.039). Visual field testing (VFT) revealed a generalized reduction of sensitivity in the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with FRDA may have a measurable degree of retinal thinning as determined by OCT and a generalized reduction of sensitivity in VFT. Combining structural and functional findings may be used in the follow-up of patients with FRDA.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology (ED) and Ophthalmology (NÖ, KÖ, İEE-T), School of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ersel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dağ
authors.forename: Nurgül
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Örnek
authors.forename: Kemal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Örnek
authors.forename: Inci Elif
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Erbahçeci-Timur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005621:Friedreich Ataxia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult