Analysis of retinal thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography in hypertensives and normotensives: A comparative study

: The change in the retinal thickness is the indicator of retinal disease. These changes can be measured with Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). This study was conducted to compare the central macular thickness (CMT), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and ganglion cell inner plexiform layers (GCIPL) thickness using SD-OCT in hypertensive and normotensives. : All patients with systemic hypertension above the age of 18 years were included in Group A and the age-matched normotensive patients in group B. A history of hypertension was obtained and blood pressure was measured. A standard eye examination and retinal imaging were performed using SD-OCT. The main parameters studied were CMT, RNFL, and GCIPL. An odds ratio and t-test were performed. A probability value of <0.05 is considered significant. : There were 60 eyes in each group. The mean age in group A was 52.43±10.35 years. The mean standard deviation of the duration of hypertension in group A was 6.41±6.28 years. The mean standard deviation CMT was 251.03±18.25µm and 256.77±15.09µm in group A and B respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in CMT of hypertensive and normotensives. The hypertensive patients had significant thickening of RNFL in the nasal quadrant compared to normotensive individuals. : The present study supports the concept that CMT is less likely to be influenced by systemic HTN. RNFL thickness may increase in hypertensives compared to normotensives.