title: Optical imaging of the optic nerve: beyond demonstration of retinal nerve fiber layer loss.
abstract: Although we are still early in the evolution of optical imaging of the optic nerve, the available techniques already play an important role in clinical decision making. I would summarize our findings to date as follows: For acute ON: Presentation: OCT shows RNFL swelling, normal GCL + IPL by OCT; 1 month: OCT and SLP show RNFL thinning and swelling, GCL + IPL thinning by OCT; 3 months or later: OCT and SLP show RNFL thinning, further mild GCL thinning by OCT; 6 months: RNFL and GCL + IPL thinning finished. For acute NAION: Presentation: OCT shows RNFL swelling and SLP shows loss of birefringence, normal GCL + IPL by OCT; 1 month: RNFL swelling and thinning by OCT and thinning by SLP, GCL + IPL thinning by OCT; 3 months or later: RNFL and further mild GCL + IPL thinning; 6 months: RNFL and GCL + IPL thinning finished. For IIH Papilledema with mild vision loss: Presentation: OCT shows swelling of RNFL, TRT, and ONH volume; Presentation: OCT shows normal GCL + IPL; Presentation: OCT shows neural canal border inward deflection; 6 months: OCT shows structural shape changes reflecting the effectiveness of treatment.
authors.affiliation: New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kupersmith
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000473:pathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence