Optical coherence tomographic findings of dissociated optic nerve fiber layer appearance

PURPOSE: To examine the features of optical coherence tomographic (OCT) findings of dissociated optic nerve fiber layer (DONFL) appearance. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Twenty-four eyes undergoing vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane or macular hole were examined postoperatively using OCT. RESULTS: Thirteen of the 24 eyes exhibited the DONFL appearance. In these 13 eyes, the OCT images indicated dimples in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) corresponding to each stria. The RNFL thickness (mean +/- SD) at the dimple site was 38.1 +/- 9.31mum. The depth of each dimple was 28.6 +/- 8.0 mum. The depths of all the dimples were limited to the RNFL thickness. In the other 11 eyes without the DONFL appearance, OCT images showed no distinct dimples. CONCLUSIONS: The DONFL appearance is caused by dimples the depths of which are limited to the RNFL thickness. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.