nach oben

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

Erschienen in:

01.02.2008 | Glaucoma

Modeling the effects of aging on retinal ganglion cell density and nerve fiber layer thickness

verfasst von: Ronald S. Harwerth, Joe L. Wheat

Erschienen in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Ausgabe 2/2008

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Purpose

The effects of aging on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness should reflect the age-related losses in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), but published data suggest that the relative rate of thinning of RNFL thickness with age is less than predicted by age-related losses of RGCs. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to reconcile the differences in age-dependency on measures of RGCs and axons that are incorporated in normative clinical data.

Methods

Normative data for RNFL thickness and visual field sensitivities were obtained from the printouts of standard optical coherence tomography (OCT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) for patients aged between 25 and 95 years, in decade steps. These data were used in models to estimate the number of RGCs underlying each measure.

Results

The age-related losses of RGCs derived from normative perimetry data agreed closely with published histologic data, without an age-dependent variable in the model. In contrast, the age-related losses of RGCs derived from normative total RNFL thickness data required an age-dependent decrease of 0.007 axons/μm²/year in axon density in the RNFL to account for the relatively slower rate of RNFL thinning than RGC loss.

Conclusions

The analysis of normative data suggests a model of age-related thinning of RNFL in which the relationship between RNFL thickness and the density of RGC axons varies with the number of neurons that are lost through normal aging. This model posits that the OCT measurement of total RNFL thickness of a normal retina represents two components: 1) an age-dependent population of RNFL axons, and 2) a non-neural component that partially compensates for the age-related decrease in axons in the nerve fiber layer.

Alamouti B, Funk J (2003) Retinal thickness decreases with age: an OCT study. Br J Ophthalmol 87:899–901PubMedCrossRef

Ajtony C, Balla Z, Somoskeoy S, et al (2007) Relationship between visual field sensitivity and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:258–263PubMedCrossRef

Balazsi AG, Rootman J, Drance SM, et al (1984) The effect of age on the nerve fiber population of the human optic nerve. Am J Ophthalmol 97:760–766PubMed

Bengtsson B, Olsson J, Heijl A, et al (1997) A new generation of algorithms for computerized threshold perimetry, SITA. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 75:368–375PubMedCrossRef

Bengtsson B, Heijl A, Olsson J (1998) Evaluation of a new threshold visual field strategy, SITA, in normal subjects. Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 76:165–169PubMedCrossRef

Bengtsson B, Heijl A (1999) Inter-subject variability and normal limits of the SITA standard, SITA fast, and the Humphrey Full Threshold computerized perimetry strategies, SITA STATPAC. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 77:125–129PubMedCrossRef

Blanks JC, Torigoe Y, Hinton DR, et al (1996) Retinal pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. I. Ganglion cell loss in foveal/parafoveal retina. Neurobiol Aging 17:377–384PubMedCrossRef

Bowd C, Weinreb RN, Williams JM, et al (2000) The retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in ocular hypertensive, normal, and glaucomatous eyes with optical coherence tomography. Arch Ophthalmol 118:22–26PubMed

Bowd C, Zangwill LM, Medeiros FA, et al (2006) Structure-function relationships using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, optical coherence tomography, and scanning laser polarimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:2889–2895PubMedCrossRef

10.

Budenz DL, Anderson DR, Varma R, et al (2007) Determinants of normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by Stratus OCT. Ophthalmology 114:1046–1052PubMedCrossRef

11.

Budenz, DL, Michael A, Chang RT, et al (2005) Sensitivity and specificity of the StratusOCT for perimetric glaucoma. Ophthalmology 112:3–9PubMedCrossRef

12.

Chen HY, Huang ML (2005) Discrimination between normal and glaucomatous eyes using Stratus optical coherence tomography in Taiwan Chinese subjects. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 243:894–902PubMedCrossRef

13.

Costa RA, Skaf M, Melo LAS, et al (2006) Retinal assessment using optical coherence tomography. Prog Retinal Eye Res 25:325–353CrossRef

14.

Cull G, Cioffi GA, Dong J, et al (2003) Estimating normal optic nerve axon numbers in non-human primate eyes. J Glaucoma 12:301–306PubMedCrossRef

15.

Da Pozzo S, Iacono P, Marchesan, et al (2006) The effect of ageing on retinal nerve fibre thickness: an evaluation by scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 84:375–379

16.

Frenkel S, Morgan JE, Blumenthal EZ (2005) Histological measurement of nerve fiber layer thickness. Eye 19:491–498PubMedCrossRef

17.

Fujimoto JG, Hee MR, Huang D, et al (2004) Principles of optical coherence tomography. In: Schuman JS, Puliafito CA, Fujimoto JG (eds) Optical coherence tomography of ocular diseases, 2nd edn. Slack, Inc, Thorofare, NJ, pp 3–19

18.

Greenfeld DS (2002) Optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber analyzers in glaucoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 13:68–76CrossRef

19.

Harman A, Abrahams B, Moore S, et al (2000) Neuronal density in the human retinal ganglion cell layer from 16–77 years. Anat Rec 260:124–131PubMedCrossRef

20.

Harwerth RS (2004) Histopathology underlying glaucomatous damage. In: Weinreb RN, Greve EL (eds) I. Glaucoma Diagnosis. Structure and Function. Kugler Publications, The Hague, The Netherlands, pp 13–19

21.

Harwerth RS, Carter-Dawson L, Smith EL III, et al (2004) Neural losses correlated with visual losses in clinical perimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:3152–3160PubMedCrossRef

22.

Harwerth RS, Carter-Dawson L, Smith EL, et al (2005) Scaling the structure-function relationship for clinical perimetry. Acta Ophthalmol Scand 83:448–455PubMedCrossRef

23.

Harwerth RS, Quigley HA (2006) Visual field defects and retinal ganglion cell losses in patients with glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 124:853–859PubMedCrossRef

24.

Harwerth RS, Vilupuru AS, Rangaswamy NV, et al (2007) The relationship between nerve fiber layer and perimetry measurements. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:763–773PubMedCrossRef

25.

Heijl A, Lindgren G, Olsson J (1987) A package for the statistical analysis of visual fields. Doc Ophthalmol 49:153–168

26.

Hougaard JL, Ostenfeld C, Heijl A, et al (2006) Modelling the normal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by Stratus optical coherence tomography. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 244:1607–1614PubMedCrossRef

27.

Johnson BM, Miao M, Sadun AA (1987) Age-related decline of human optic nerve populations. Age 10:5–9CrossRef

28.

Johnson CA, Adams AJ, Lewis RA (1989) Evidence for a neural basis of age-related visual field loss in normal observers. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:2056–2064PubMed

29.

Jonas JB, Muller-Bergh JA, Schotzer-Schrehardt UM, et al (1990) Histomorphometry of the human optic nerve. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:736–744PubMed

30.

Jonas JB, Schmidt AM, Muller-Bergh JA, et al (1992) Human optic nerve fiber count and optic disc size. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:2012–2018PubMed

31.

Kanamori A, Escano MTF, Eno A, et al (2003) Evaluation of the effect of aging on retinal nerve fiber thickness measured by optical coherence tomography. Ophthalmologica 217:273–278PubMedCrossRef

32.

Kerrigan-Baumrind LA, Quigley HA, Pease ME, et al (2000) Number of ganglion cells in glaucoma eyes compared with threshold visual field tests in the same persons. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:741–748PubMed

33.

Knighton RW, Huang XR, Greenfield DS (2002) Analytical model of scanning laser polarimetry for retinal nerve fiber layer assessment. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:383–392PubMed

34.

Lachenmayr BJ, Kojetinsky, Vivell PM (1995) Is there an accelerated loss at older age for normal sensitivity in the central visual field? In: Wall M, Mills RP (eds) Perimetry Update 1994/95. Kugler Publications, Amsterdam, pp 49–56

35.

Leung CK, Chan W, Chong KKL, et al (2005) Comparative study of retinal nerve fiber layer measurement by StratusOCT and GDx VCC, I: Correlation analysis in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 46:3214–3220PubMedCrossRef

36.

Mikelberg FS, Drance SM, Schulzer M, et al (1989) The normal human optic nerve. Axon count and axon diameter distribution. Ophthalmology 96:1325–1328PubMed

37.

Neufeld AH, Gachie EN (2003) The inherent age-dependent loss of retinal ganglion cells is related to the lifespan of the species. Neurobiol Aging 25:167–172CrossRef

38.

Ogden TE (1983) Nerve fiber layer of the primate retina: thickness and glial content. Vision Res 23:581–587PubMedCrossRef

39.

Ogden TE (1984) Nerve fiber layer of the primate retina: morphometric analysis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:19–29PubMed

40.

Patella VM (2005) StratusOCT: Establishment of normative reference values for retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements. Carl Zeiss Meditec Publication

41.

Quigley HA, Dunkelberger GR, Green WR (1989) Retinal ganglion cell atrophy correlated with automated perimetry in human eyes with glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 107:453–464PubMed

42.

Ramakrishnan R, Mittal S, Sonal A, et al (2006) Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements in normal Indian population by optical coherence tomography. Indian J Ophthalmol 54:11–15PubMedCrossRef

43.

Repka MX, Quigley HA (1989) The effect of age on normal human optic nerve fiber number and diameter. Ophthalmology 96:26–32PubMed

44.

Salchow DJ, Oleynikov YS, Chang MF, et al (2006) Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal children measured with optical coherence tomography. Ophthalmology 113:786–791PubMedCrossRef

45.

Schlottmann PG, De Cilla S, Greenfield DS, et al (2004) Relationship between visual field sensitivity and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by scanning laser polarimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 45:1823–1829PubMedCrossRef

46.

Sihota R, Sony P, Gupta V (2006). Diagnostic capability of optical coherence tomography in evaluating the degree of glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber damage. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 47:2006–2010PubMedCrossRef

47.

Sony P, Sihota R, Tewari Hem K, et al (2004) Quantification of the retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in normal Indian eyes with optical coherence tomography. Indian J Ophthalmol 52:303–309PubMed

48.

Spry PGD, Johnson CA (2001) Senescent changes in the normal visual field: An age-old problem. Optom Vis Sci 78:436–441PubMedCrossRef

49.

Varma R, Bazzaz S, Lau M (2003) Optical tomography-measured retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in normal latinos. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 44:3369–3373PubMedCrossRef

50.

Varma R, Skaf M, Barron E (1996) Retinal nerve fiber thickness in normal human eyes. Ophthalmology 103:2114–2119PubMed

51.

Wang L, Cioffi GA, Cull G, et al (2002) Immunohistologic evidence for retinal glial cell changes in human glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 43:1088–1094PubMed

52.

Wollstein G, Schuman JS, Price LL, et al (2005) Optical coherence tomography longitudinal evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 123:464–470PubMedCrossRef

53.

Zangwill LM, Bowd C (2006) Retinal nerve fiber layer analysis in the diagnosis of glaucoma. Curr Opin Ophthalmol 17:120–131PubMed

Titel: Modeling the effects of aging on retinal ganglion cell density and nerve fiber layer thickness
verfasst von: Ronald S. Harwerth
Joe L. Wheat
Publikationsdatum: 01.02.2008
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology / Ausgabe 2/2008
Print ISSN: 0721-832X
Elektronische ISSN: 1435-702X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0691-5

Neu im Fachgebiet Augenheilkunde

08.04.2024 | Therapieverfahren in der Augenheilkunde | CME

Update Augenheilkunde

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.

Newsletter bestellen

Springer Medizin

Modeling the effects of aging on retinal ganglion cell density and nerve fiber layer thickness

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Neu im Fachgebiet Augenheilkunde

Ophthalmika in der Schwangerschaft

Operative Therapie und Keimnachweis bei endogener Endophthalmitis

Bakterielle endogene Endophthalmitis

So erreichen Sie eine bestmögliche Wundheilung der Kornea

Update Augenheilkunde

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Bitte loggen Sie sich ein, um Zugang zu diesem Inhalt zu erhalten

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 2/2008

Comment on the recent publication “Conjunctival nodules associated with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease”

Ocular injuries and visual status before and after their management in the tribal areas of Western India-A historical cohort study

Hospitalized eye injury in a large industrial city of South-Eastern Asia

Bevacizumab (Avastin) eye drops inhibit corneal neovascularization

Eye injuries in an Italian urban population: report of 10620 cases admitted to an eye emergency department in Torino

Pattern of ocular trauma in Egypt

Neu im Fachgebiet Augenheilkunde

Ophthalmika in der Schwangerschaft

Operative Therapie und Keimnachweis bei endogener Endophthalmitis

Bakterielle endogene Endophthalmitis

So erreichen Sie eine bestmögliche Wundheilung der Kornea

Update Augenheilkunde