Retinal nerve fiber layer sector-specific compromise in relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quadrant and sector retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and total macular volume (TMV) in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients. METHODS: Optical coherence tomography measures of RNFL and TMV were studied in 321 eyes without prior optic neuritis (ON) (MS unaffected), 151 eyes with prior ON (MS affected), and 148 healthy control eyes. RESULTS: Mean RNFL thickness was significantly lower in the MS affected and MS unaffected groups relative to the control group (p < 0.0001). RNFL thicknesses in the superior, inferior, and temporal quadrants were significantly reduced in MS unaffected (113 ± 15 μm, 119 ± 17 μm, 63 ± 13 μm) (p < 0.001) and MS affected groups (99 ± 19 μm, 103 ± 21 μm, 51 ± 13 μm) (p < 0.0001) compared with that in controls (120 ± 14 μm, 128 ± 15 μm, 69 ± 8 μm, respectively). TMV was significantly reduced in both the MS affected and MS unaffected groups compared with that in the controls (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Quadrant, sector, and PMB RNFL thicknesses are significant individual measures in RR-MS for both affected and unaffected eyes and may prove valuable in future investigations including biomarker and outcomes research.