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Damage integrity from eye to visual cortex
Author(s) -
ENGIN K
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.2253.x
Subject(s) - glaucoma , neuroscience , optic nerve , visual field , functional magnetic resonance imaging , visual cortex , medicine , optical coherence tomography , diffusion mri , magnetic resonance imaging , ophthalmology , psychology , radiology
Ever since the initial reports on the impacts of glaucoma on the optic nerve (ON), corpus geniculatum laterale (CGL) and visual cortex, its damage beyond the retinal ganglion cells into the brain substance became increasingly evident. In 2 consecutive studies, we aimed to evaluate the structural and functional extent of glaucomatous neurodegeneration in an attempt to develop techniques feasible for routine clinical application. Original diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques with 1,5T MRI system were applied in retrobulber imaging and evaluation. fMRI detects increased neuronal activity via changes in blood oxygenation, DTI is based on the movement principle of fluids in a plane connected to the nerve. ON damage and cortical hypofunction were imaged. Most importantly, optic coherence tomography (OCT), central visual field (CVF) findings show statistically significant positive and negative correlation with particular diffusion parameters of ON and CGL, respectively. Aside from the classical treatment methods based on management of the IOP, new strategies focusing on the area beyond the optic nerve head are needed to be developed. Better understanding of retrobulbar glaucomatous damage will enable us to develop more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for glaucoma management, and possibly shed a light on the current unanswered questions about glaucoma.