[Role of SD-OCT in the diagnosis and prognosis of macular hypoplasia in nystagmus patients].

PURPOSE: To investigate whether spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is helpful for the diagnosis and prognosis of foveal hypoplasia in patients with overt nystagmus.

METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 patients with overt nystagmus. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including best corrected visual acuity, biomicroscopic and fundus examinations. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography was performed using 3D OCT-2000 FA PLUS Topcon, Tokyo, Japan, for the diagnosis and grading of foveal hypoplasia, using the Thomas classification, and its possible correlation with visual acuity.

RESULTS: Foveal hypoplasia was diagnosed in 6 patients (12.5%). The mean age of the patients was 13.2 years (10-18 years). Mean visual acuity was 1.53/10 (0.87 LogMAR). Foveal hypoplasia was associated with aniridia in 2 patients, albinism in 3 patients and keratoconus in 1 case. On SD-OCT, foveal hypoplasia was grade 4 in 4 patients and grade 3 in 2 patients. Mean visual acuity was 2.55/10 in patients with grade 3 foveal hypoplasia and 1.22/10 in patients with grade 4 foveal hypoplasia, and the difference in visual acuity between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: SD-OCT plays a double role in the diagnosis and prognosis of foveal hypoplasia in patients with nystagmus.