Optical coherence tomography findings in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate vitreoretinal interface (VRI) findings and layer-specific macular thickness profiles on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

METHODS

This retrospective case–control study included 26 children with DMD and 28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination and Spectralis spectral-domain OCT. Ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer plexiform layer (OPL) thicknesses were obtained using the ETDRS grid (central 1-mm subfield and quadrants of the 3-mm and 6-mm rings). Between-group comparisons were evaluated using covariate-adjusted models (age, spherical equivalent, and intraocular pressure), with false discovery rate (Benjamini–Hochberg) correction applied within each layer. Only right eyes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Best-corrected visual acuity was 0.0 logMAR in both groups, and spherical equivalent and intraocular pressure were comparable. No VRI abnormalities or vascular manifestations, including Duchenne-associated proliferative retinopathy, were detected. After covariate adjustment and FDR correction, GCIPL thickness remained reduced in the 3-mm inferior and 6-mm temporal sectors (both q = 0.0135), and INL thickness remained reduced in the 3-mm inferior sector (q = 0.036). Within the DMD group, age was not significantly correlated with these parameters.

CONCLUSION

Children with DMD and preserved visual acuity showed subtle, sector-specific thinning of inner retinal layers (GCIPL and INL) on OCT, while VRI and vascular abnormalities were absent. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and clarify their clinical significance.