The Thickness of the Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) as a Biomarker in Uveitis.

AIMS: To study the changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness during and following uveitis flares.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients with uveitis diagnosed in the ophthalmology service of Torrevieja hospital. We analyzed RNFL thickness during and after the acute episode.

RESULTS

We included 29 patients. Most patients (55.2%) had anterior uveitis; followed by posterior, intermediate and panuveitis. Mean RNFL thickness was significantly higher during the flare (132.17±35.54μm vs 107.66±17.10μm). RNFL thickness had no difference between groups with or without macular edema.

CONCLUSIONS

The RNFL thickens during flares in most patients with uveitis. It can be measured by optical coherence tomography in a non-invasive way, representing an objective marker of inflammation. This can favor earlier detection of flares, resolution, and recurrence of uveitis. More studies are needed to determine the evolution of RNFL over time and in different types of uveitis.