Abstract
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an imaging technique that allows repeated non-invasive assessment of retinal layers. The report summarizes the use of OCT in the diagnostics of optic neuritis (ON) as one of the main characteristics of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).
ON in NMOSD leads to widespread destruction of ganglion cells and their fibers across the retina, resulting in a thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in all peripapillary segments, as well as in a thinning of ganglion cell layer in macula. Unlike in NMOSD, ON in MS results in a predominant thinning of peripapillary RNFL in temporal segment.
OCT helps differentiation between ON in the context of MS and NMOSD and thus contributes to early diagnosis of MS and NMOSD.