Association of Optic Disc Hyperfluorescence with Subclinical Macular and Optic Disc Edema in Uveitis Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the frequency of optic disc hyperfluorescence (ODH) and their association with macular and optic nerve head thickness in patients with active uveitis.Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 37 eyes of 30 patients with active noninfectious uveitis who underwent spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography. OCT parameters were compared between baseline and post-treatment according to the ODH.Results: ODH was observed clearly in 22 eyes (64.7%) and equivocally in five eyes (14.7%) at baseline. In subgroup analysis without clinically significant optic disc edema, central subfield thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, disc rim area, and disc area were 262.2 μm, 110.9 μm, 1.49 mm², and 2.02 mm² at baseline and significantly decreased after treatment (249.5 μm, 102.1 μm, 1.34 mm², and 1.95 mm², respectively) in eyes with ODH (<i>p</i> = 0.044, <i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.001, <i>p</i> = 0.024, respectively). However, there was no significant changes in the eyes without ODH (all <i>p</i> > 0.05).Conclusions: There was a difference in the thickness reduction of the macula and optic nerve head according to the ODH. Baseline ODH should be regarded as a sign of ocular inflammation and carefully monitored.