A mathematical model for describing the retinal nerve fiber bundle trajectories in the human eye: Average course, variability, and influence of refraction, optic disc size and optic disc position

Nomdo M. Jansonius*, Julia Schiefer, Jukka Nevalainen, Jens Paetzold, Ulrich Schiefer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

88 Citations (Scopus)
423 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Previously we developed a mathematical model for describing the retinal nerve fiber bundle trajectories in the superior-temporal and inferior-temporal regions of the human retina, based on traced trajectories extracted from fundus photographs. Aims of the current study were to (i) validate the existing model, (ii) expand the model to the entire retina and (iii) determine the influence of refraction, optic disc size and optic disc position on the trajectories. A new set of fundus photographs was collected comprising 28 eyes of 28 subjects. From these 28 photographs, 625 trajectories were extracted. Trajectories in the temporal region of the retina were compared to the existing model. In this region, 347 of 399 trajectories (87%) were within the 95% central range of the existing model. The model was extended to the nasal region. With this extension, the model can now be applied to the entire retina that corresponds to the visual field as tested with standard automated perimetry (up to approximately 30 eccentricity). There was an asymmetry between the superior and inferior hemifields and a considerable location-specific inter-subject variability. In the nasal region, we found two "singularities", located roughly at the one and five o'clock positions for the right optic disc. Here, trajectories from relatively widespread areas of the retina converge. Associations between individual deviations from the model and refraction, optic disc size and optic disc position were studied with multiple linear regression. Refraction (P = 0.021) and possibly optic disc inclination (P = 0.09) influenced the trajectories in the superior-temporal region. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)70-78
Number of pages9
JournalExperimental eye research
Volume105
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec-2012

Keywords

  • glaucoma
  • neuro-ophthalmology
  • perimetry
  • optic nerve head
  • retinal nerve fiber layer
  • structure-function
  • coloboma
  • visual pathways
  • VISUAL-FIELD
  • COHERENCE-TOMOGRAPHY
  • LAYER
  • GLAUCOMA
  • HEAD
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • PERIMETRY
  • DAMAGE
  • MAP

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A mathematical model for describing the retinal nerve fiber bundle trajectories in the human eye: Average course, variability, and influence of refraction, optic disc size and optic disc position'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this