Study of the Correlation Between Macular Thickness Analyzed by Optical Coherence Tomography and the Visual Functions in Retinitis Pigmemtosa

Purpose: To study the associations between visual functions and the retinal tomography detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Study design: retrospective, non-randomized and non-comparable study Material: Medical recordings of the RP patients who visited the Out-Patient Department of Ophthalmology in NTUH during June, 2003 to June, 2008.

Methods: By reviewing charts of the RP patients, the investigators will categorize RP patients into different types according to the loci of the pathological change in their retina evaluated by opththaomoscopy. And the investigators will collect the data of their visual functions including visual acuity, visual field, Arden ratio of electrooculography, and color sense discrimination. Then, according to the OCT map, the investigators will analyze the retinal thickness by dividing the macular area into foveal area, inner ring and outer ring. Finally, the investigators will analyze the relationships between visual functions and retinal thickness in different macular areas in different types of RP patients.

Anticipated results: The investigators expect that retinal tomographies may different among different types of RP. And the retinal tomographic change may correspond to the change of a certain kind of visual function. Hence, according to the thickness of a specific area in macula, the investigators may anticipate that some visual dysfunction may exist.