Objective: Evaluate the alterations of retinal anatomy and function, as well as choroidal thickness changes, in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN).
Method: 13 female AN patients (26 eyes) and 20 female controls (40 eyes) were included. Assessment of the retinal and choroidal anatomy was performed by optical-coherence-tomography, while multifocal-electroretinogram was used for measurements of the electrical activity of the macula. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test.
Results: Central macular thickness was found to be thinner in AN (140.04 ± 14.45, 150.85 ± 16.03, p = 0.007), likewise the ganglion cell complex and outer retinal layer (ORL) at most areas. ORL superiorly was thicker in AN (169.12 ± 2.55, 163.00 ± 8.70, p < 0.001), while retinal nerve fiber layer was not different between the two groups, except the inferior region (121.08 ± 18.52, 137.60 ± 7.30, p < 0.001). Choroidal thickness was evenly diminished in the anorectic group (p = 0.001-0.027). Multifocal-electroretinogram showed lower P1-retinal response density amplitude of ring 1 in AN (159.04 ± 60.83, 292.43 ± 11.59, p < 0.001), but no significant difference concerning the P1-response density amplitude of ring 2 (79.04 ± 21.89, 82.63 ± 9.10, p = 0.36).
Discussion: In AN patients, even without vision loss, significant changes occur in retinal and choroidal thickness, as well as in the electrical activity of the macula. However, this is a pilot study in a small sample that needs replication.
Keywords: anorexia nervosa; choroid; mferg; oct; retina; thickness.
© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.