2M.D., Erzurum Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Erzurum/TURKEY
3M.D., Ağrı State Hospital, Eye Clinic, Ağrı/TURKEY
4M.D. Asistant Professor, Kafkas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kars/TURKEY Purpose: To evaluate the effects of smoking on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNLF) and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Material and Methods: 30 healthy smokers whose mean duration of smoking were 5 years (Group 1), 30 healthy smokers whose mean duration of smoking were 10 years (Group 2) and 30 non-smokers (control group) were included. All participants' retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness were determined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and compared.
Results: The mean age of participants in group 1, group 2 and control group were 29.4±5.3 (21-34 age), 32.4±5.1 (23-38 age), 30.1±6.1 (20- 41 age), respectively. The mean cigarette smoking index was 5.7±1.8 (5-8) in group 1 and 11.7±3.2 (10-15) in group 2. Comparing group 1 and control group, decrease in the RNFL and GCC thickness was not statistically significant but between group 2 and control group there was statistically significant decrease in RNFL and GCC thickness measurements. Compared to control group, decrease in the RNFL and GCC thickness was not statistically significant in group 1 but significant in group 2. The difference in RNFL and GCC thickness between group 1 and group 2 was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Chronic cigarrette smoking is associated wtih decreased RNFL and GCC thickness.
Keywords : Cigarette, OCT, RNFL