Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia

Angela M Herro, Byron L Lam Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between topographic reduction in macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) th...

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Main Authors: Herro AM, Lam BL
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2015-06-01
Series:Clinical Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-degeneration-of-retinal-ganglion-cells-in-homonymous-hemian-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH
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author Herro AM
Lam BL
author_facet Herro AM
Lam BL
author_sort Herro AM
collection DOAJ
description Angela M Herro, Byron L Lam Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between topographic reduction in macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness as detected with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and visual field defects caused by ischemic occipital cortical injury.Methods: This study was a retrospective review of all patients who presented to our eye institution between January 2012 and July 2014 with visual field defects secondary to ischemic cortical injury. The visual field defect pattern and mean deviation were analyzed. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular GCC were both assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Patients with any ocular pathology that could affect these measurements were excluded. The topographic relationship of visual field defect to reduction in GCC was specifically analyzed. Results: Nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Their average age was 65 (57–73) years; eight were men and six had right hemianopsias. The laterality of the visual field defect was used to assign an affected and unaffected side of analysis for RNFL and GCC layer thickness. A right hemianopsia meant that the nasal fibers of the right eye and temporal fibers of the left eye were assigned as the “affected side”, and the temporal fibers of the right eye and nasal fibers of the left eye were assigned as “unaffected”. There was no statistically significant difference between affected and unaffected RNFL. However, there was a significant difference in GCC layer reduction between the affected and unaffected sides (P=0.029).Conclusion: There is evidence of retrograde trans-synaptic retinal ganglion cell loss in patients with homonymous hemianopsias from cortical visual impairment. This relationship is reflected in thinning of the GCC and maintains the topographic relationship of the visual field defect. Keywords: homonymous hemianopsia, ganglion cell complex, occipital lobe
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spelling doaj.art-efaafd6cd32449d689cda6e10795ded62022-12-21T19:25:17ZengDove Medical PressClinical Ophthalmology1177-54832015-06-012015default1057106422126Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsiaHerro AMLam BLAngela M Herro, Byron L Lam Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the relationship between topographic reduction in macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness as detected with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and visual field defects caused by ischemic occipital cortical injury.Methods: This study was a retrospective review of all patients who presented to our eye institution between January 2012 and July 2014 with visual field defects secondary to ischemic cortical injury. The visual field defect pattern and mean deviation were analyzed. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular GCC were both assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Patients with any ocular pathology that could affect these measurements were excluded. The topographic relationship of visual field defect to reduction in GCC was specifically analyzed. Results: Nine patients met the inclusion criteria. Their average age was 65 (57–73) years; eight were men and six had right hemianopsias. The laterality of the visual field defect was used to assign an affected and unaffected side of analysis for RNFL and GCC layer thickness. A right hemianopsia meant that the nasal fibers of the right eye and temporal fibers of the left eye were assigned as the “affected side”, and the temporal fibers of the right eye and nasal fibers of the left eye were assigned as “unaffected”. There was no statistically significant difference between affected and unaffected RNFL. However, there was a significant difference in GCC layer reduction between the affected and unaffected sides (P=0.029).Conclusion: There is evidence of retrograde trans-synaptic retinal ganglion cell loss in patients with homonymous hemianopsias from cortical visual impairment. This relationship is reflected in thinning of the GCC and maintains the topographic relationship of the visual field defect. Keywords: homonymous hemianopsia, ganglion cell complex, occipital lobehttp://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-degeneration-of-retinal-ganglion-cells-in-homonymous-hemian-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH
spellingShingle Herro AM
Lam BL
Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
Clinical Ophthalmology
title Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
title_full Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
title_fullStr Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
title_full_unstemmed Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
title_short Retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
title_sort retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in homonymous hemianopsia
url http://www.dovepress.com/retrograde-degeneration-of-retinal-ganglion-cells-in-homonymous-hemian-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH
work_keys_str_mv AT herroam retrogradedegenerationofretinalganglioncellsinhomonymoushemianopsia
AT lambl retrogradedegenerationofretinalganglioncellsinhomonymoushemianopsia