Evaluation of the optic nerve head and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients receiving Electro-Convulsive Therapy

Abstract

Background: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a method commonly used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. As ocular side effects from OCT are less studied and discussed, the aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in patients receiving ECT. Method: This study was performed on 30 patients who had indication for ECT. After recording demographic data, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was measured by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) of optic nerve head and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer. Results: Our results showed that for most of the studied variables, the normal range was observed in less than 85% of patients receiving ECT. Variables which were outside the normal range were: cup disk (C/D) ratio (right and left eyes were 50% and 46.7%, respectively), vertical C/D ratio (right and left eyes were 53.3% and 46.7%, respectively), and cup volume (right and left eyes were 53.3% and 33.3%, respectively). Conclusion: This study showed that a high percentage of patients receiving ECT had changes in the optic nerve head while intra-ocular pressure in these patients was normal. It is warranted for examiners to pay attention to diagnosis of normal tension glaucoma in patients receiving ECT.