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Optical Coherence Tomography and Optic Nerve Edema

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OCT in Central Nervous System Diseases

Abstract

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) continues to advance our understanding of the various diseases characterized by optic disc edema. In acute papilledema, OCT has demonstrated subretinal fluid extending from the optic disc to the subfoveal region, assisting in our understanding of the pathophysiology of vision loss in these cases. In evolving cases of optic disc edema, OCT of the RNFL can thus be an objective measurement of nerve swelling. By analyzing the ganglion cell complex, OCT can now help detect early axonal damage in optic nerve disease, even when the RNFL is edematous, and may be helpful in predicting visual outcomes. Finally, OCT has also proven to be a reliable tool in assisting clinicians in differentiating between cases of frank papilledema and pseudopapilledema, such that occurs in optic nerve head drusen, vitreopapillary traction, Bergmeister papilla, and myelinated nerve fiber layer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology, New England Eye Center at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Kendra A. Klein MD & Thomas R. Hedges III MD

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  1. Kendra A. Klein MD
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  2. Thomas R. Hedges III MD
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Correspondence to Kendra A. Klein MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Head of Ophthalmology Department, Professor of Ophthalmology,, Poznań, Poland

    Andrzej Grzybowski

  2. Studio Oculistico d’Azeglio, Bologna, Italy

    Piero Barboni

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Klein, K.A., Hedges, T.R. (2016). Optical Coherence Tomography and Optic Nerve Edema. In: Grzybowski, A., Barboni, P. (eds) OCT in Central Nervous System Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24085-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24085-5_3

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