Evaluation of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, Ganglion Cell Thickness, and Macular Thickness in Children With Comorbid Specific Learning Disorder and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes in ocular optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in the comorbidity of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific learning disorder (SLD).

METHODS

This study included 40 individuals diagnosed as having ADHD along with comorbid SLD, 40 individuals diagnosed as having only ADHD, and 40 individuals with no psychiatric disorders. OCT assessments were performed on eyes of the participants to obtain retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, and macular thickness measurements.

RESULTS

In total, 240 eyes were evaluated. The right and left eyes were not significantly different in terms of RNFL, GCL, and macular thickness within groups (P > .05). RNFL thickness was measured and compared across four quadrants (superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal). Although these values were not significantly different between the groups (P > .05), RNFL was observed to be thinner in children with comorbid ADHD and SLD in all quadrants. Similarly, GCL and macular thickness measurements were also not different between the groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Considering that retinal nerve fibers can be seen as an extension of the brain in the embryologic context, the results showed that OCT findings alone are not sufficient to detect the changes in ADHD and SLD comorbidity. The authors suggest that OCT is more useful in the etiology and follow-up of neurodegenerative diseases rather than neurodevelopmental disorders. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2024;61(2):128-136.].