Purpose: To compare retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and inner macula thickness changes measured with Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry during the course of acute optic neuritis (ON).
Methods: Nine eyes of 7 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were prospectively imaged from the onset of ON for 6 to 12 months. Nine healthy eyes were imaged for 12 to 19 months.
Results: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measured with FD-OCT initially increased in all eyes with diffuse optic disc edema. Inner macula thickness and polarimetric RNFLT decreased already in the acute phase, in all eyes. All parameters stabilized at 2 to 5 months. The relative structural loss was different with the different methods. Poor image quality with polarimetry occurred in 2 eyes in the acute phase of ON. In the control eyes all parameters were stable.
Conclusions: Change of RNFLT and macular thickness during the course of acute ON in MS strongly depends on the method used for the measurement. Inner macula thickness, measured with FD-OCT, was especially useful for the follow-up, since it was not influenced by initial disc edema and had consistently high image quality.