Lesions in the posterior visual pathway promote trans-synaptic degeneration of retinal ganglion cells.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration of retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) has been proposed as one of the mechanisms contributing to permanent disability after visual pathway damage. We set out to test this mechanism taking advantage of the new methods for imaging the macula with high resolution by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with lesions in the posterior visual pathway. Additionally, we explored the association between thinning of GCL as an imaging marker of visual impairment such as visual field defects.

Methods

Retrospective case note review of patients with retrogeniculate lesions studied by spectral domain OCT of the macula and quadrant pattern deviation (PD) of the visual fields.

Results

We analysed 8 patients with either hemianopi

SUBMITTER: Keller J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4032251 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature