Study of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in chronic kidney disease patients

Abstract

To compare the RNFL thickness between CKD patients and age matched healthy controls and to correlate RNFL thickness with duration of CKD. RNFL thickness was also assessed in CKD patients with and without haemodialysis.: One hundred and fifty eyes were included in the study and were labeled as group A. Equal number of age matched controls were included in group B. RNFL thickness was measured using optical coherence tomography for optic nerve head (ONH) scan.Mean of average RNFL thickness was studied to be thinner in group A in comparison to group B. Statistically significant thinning was also noted in superior and inferior quadrant of group A. Increase in average RNFL thickness and increase in superior and temporal quadrant RNFL thickness was noted in HD group as compared to non- HD group. A negative correlation was noted between RNFL thickness and duration of CKD. : This study concluded that RNFL thickness was found to be thinner in CKD patients as compared to healthy individuals. However RNFL thickness was found to be thicker in HD group as compared to non- HD group.