Optical Gap Biomarker in Cone-Dominant Retinal Dystrophy

Optical Gap Biomarker in Cone-Dominant Retinal Dystrophy

Purpose: To characterize the progression of optical gaps and expand the known etiologies of this phenotype.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Thirty-six patients were selected based on the identification of an optical gap on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) from a large cohort of patients (N = 746) with confirmed diagnoses of inherited retinal dystrophy. The width and height of the gaps in 70 eyes of 36 patients were measured by 2 independent graders using the caliper tool on Heidelberg Explorer. Measurements of outer and central retinal thickness were also evaluated and correlated with gap dimensions.

Results: Longitudinal analysis confirmed the progressive nature of optical gaps in patients with Stargardt disease, achromatopsia, occult macular dystrophy, and cone dystrophies (P < .003). Larger changes in gap width were noted in patients with Stargardt disease (78.1 μm/year) and cone dystrophies (31.9 μm/year) compared with patients with achromatopsia (16.2 μm/year) and occult macular dystrophy (15.4 μm/year). Gap height decreased in patients with Stargardt disease (6.5 μm/year; P = .02) but increased in patients with achromatopsia (3.3 μm/year) and occult macular dystrophy (1.2 μm/year). Gap height correlated with measurements of central retinal thickness at the fovea (r = 0.782, P = .00012). Interocular discordance of the gap was observed in 7 patients. Finally, a review of all currently described etiologies of optical gap was summarized.

Conclusion: The optical gap is a progressive phenotype seen in an increasing number of etiologies. This progressive nature suggests a use as a biomarker in the understanding of disease progression. Interocular discordance of the phenotype may be a feature of Stargardt disease and cone dystrophies.


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