Morphological differences of the neuroretinal rim between temporally tilted and non-tilted optic discs in healthy eyes

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to compare morphological differences of the neuroretinal rim between the temporally tilted and non-tilted optic discs in healthy eyes. We prospectively enrolled participants aged 20–40 years with temporally tilted or non-tilted optic discs. The optic nerve head parameters were analyzed using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography. The angle between the Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) plane and BMO-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) was termed “BMO-MRW angle”. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFLT) and BMO-based parameters were compared between the temporally tilted and non-tilted disc groups. As a result, 55 temporally tilted disc eyes and 38 non-tilted disc eyes were analyzed. Global pRNFLT, global BMO-MRW, and total BMO-minimum rim area (BMO-MRA) were similar between the two groups (p = 0.138, 0.161, and p = 0.410, respectively). In the sectoral analysis, temporally tilted disc group exhibited thicker BMO-MRW in the temporal sector (p = 0.032) and thinner in the nasal superior and nasal sectors (p = 0.025 and p = 0.002, respectively). Temporally tilted disc group showed larger BMO-MRA in the temporal, temporal superior, and temporal inferior sectors (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.016, respectively), alongside a higher BMO-MRW angle in the temporal sector and lower in the nasal superior and nasal sectors. In conclusion, the neuroretinal rim, represented by BMO-MRW and BMO-MRA, showed morphological differences between temporally tilted and non-tilted optic discs in healthy eyes. BMO-MRW and BMO-MRA showed temporalization in the same manner as pRNFLT in the temporally tilted disc eyes. The BMO-MRW angle showed that in temporally tilted disc eyes, optic nerve fibers met the BMO plane steeply in the nasal sector and gently in the temporal sector than in non-tilted disc eyes, suggesting potential stress region of optic nerve fibers in temporally tilted disc eyes.