title: Optical coherence tomography shows retinal abnormalities associated with optic nerve disease.
abstract: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macula in patients with primary optic neuropathy has revealed the presence of structural changes in the neurosensory retina in addition to the nerve fibre layer. Subretinal fluid has been documented in papilloedema and non-arteritic ischaemic optic neuropathy, and may account for decreased visual acuity in affected patients. Subretinal fluid has also been described from other causes of optic nerve head swelling including diabetic papillopathy and papillitis. Drugs used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, such as corticosteroids and fingolimod can cause decreased vision due to central serous and cystoid macular oedema sometimes confused with recurrent optic neuritis. A subset of patients with various types of optic atrophy show microcystic changes in the inner nuclear layer on spectral domain OCT imaging. The pathophysiology and visual significance of these retinal changes remain unclear, but may affect the diagnosis and management of optic nerve disorders.
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Kirstin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tawse
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Hedges
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobuty
authors.affiliation: New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Santiesteban
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D058471:Subretinal Fluid; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Imaging; Optic Nerve; Retina