Purpose: To assess the functional and structural changes in the retinal nerve fiber layer
(RNFL) and the ganglion cell complex (GCC) in heavy smokers using pattern electroretinogram
(PERG), photopic negative response(PhNR) and spectral domain optical coherence
tomography (SD-OCT).
Patients and Methods: Sixty eyes of 30 heavy smokers (at least 15 cigarettes/day for 10
years) (study group) and 60 eyes of 30 age and gender-matched healthy non-smoker subjects
(control group) were included. After full ophthalmologic examination (PERG), (PhNR) using
RETI-port/scan 21 (Roland Consult, Brandenburg, Germany) and (SD-OCT using Topcon 3D
OCT model 2000 FA version.8.30) were tested for all participants. Statistical analysis was
performed to compare GCC, RNFL thicknesses, PERG and phNR values between groups.
Results: The mean age was 36.67±4.13 years in the study group and 36.0±4.76 years in the
control group. There were no statistical significant differences between the two groups regarding
intraocular pressure (p=0.43), axial length (p=0.37), and central corneal thickness (p=0.86). There
were significant differences of GCC thickness values between the study group (88.4±6.6 μm) and
control group (94.83±5.25 μm) (p |
