OCT based interpretation of the optic nerve head anatomy in young adults with retinal vascular occlusions and ischemic optic neuropathy.

Purpose: To examine optic nerve head (ONH) anatomy in young adults with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) or nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) in order to look for associated, potentially predisposing anomalies.

Methods: Cross-sectional study including 54 patients (ages 16-50 years) diagnosed from 2009 to 2018 with CRVO, BRVO, CRAO, BRAO, or NA-AION. Using Optical Coherence Tomography the presence of optic disc drusen (ODD), prelaminar hyperreflective lines and peripapillary hyperreflective ovoid mass-like structures (PHOMS), and determination of scleral canal size, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and macular ganglion cell layer thickness (GCLT) was obtained. Data for retinal vascular occlusion patients were grouped and analyzed together.

Results: ODD were found in 13% of all patients, 2% of retinal vascular occlusion patients and 67% of NA-AION patients ( < 0.0001). Prelaminar hyperreflective lines were found in 35% of all patients, 24% of retinal vascular occlusion patients and 89% of NA-AION patients ( = 0.0005). PHOMS were found in 20% of all patients, 13% of retinal vascular occlusion patients and 56% of NA-AION patients ( = 0.012). RNFLT was decreased in ODD patients compared to patients without ODD ( = 0.01). Scleral canal diameter and GCLT was not correlated with ODD, prelaminar hyperreflective lines or PHOMS.

Conclusion: ODD, prelaminar hyperreflective lines and PHOMS were more frequent in NA-AION patients compared to retinal vascular occlusion patients. The prevalence of ODD in retinal vascular occlusion patients was similar to the reported prevalence in the general population.