Distinctive Patterns of Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss on OCT May Differentiate Various Optic Neuropathies

Improvement in OCT technology and resolution allows for better retinal segmentation and measurement of the macular ganglion cell layer. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, as measured by OCT is typically used as an indicator of optic nerve pathology. Some studies have demonstrated that ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness in patients with MS correlates better than retinal nerve fiber layer measurements with regard to visual acuity and quality of life. We have found that GCL analysis shows distinctive patterns which correlate better with visual function than RNFL measurements do.