Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fiber Progression in a 10-Year Follow-Up. The Beijing Eye Study 2001/2011.

Abstract Purpose : To assess the prevalence of myelinated retinal nerve fibers (MRNFs), the rate of their change in a 10-year follow-up, and associations with ocular and systematic parameters in a population-based cohort. Design : Longitudinal population-based cohort study. Methods : The Beijing Eye study including 4439 participants aged 40+ years in 2001 and was repeated in 2011, with 2695 individuals (66.4% of the surviving) being re-examined in 2011. All participants underwent detailed physical and ocular examinations. MRNFs were diagnosed on fundus photographs and their change was assessed using a flicker method of fundus photographs. Results : Out of 35 eyes (29 participants) with detected MRNFs at baseline (mean prevalence:0.4±0.26% per eye or 0.7%±0.41% per individual), 23 eyes from 20 individuals (17 (85%) participants with unilateral MRNFs) were re-examined in 2011. MRNF enlargement was detected in all 19 eyes (100%) with clear fundus photographs. The mean MRNF area increased from 4233±3670 µm2 (range:178-11643 µm2) at baseline to 5243±4092 µm2 (range:196-13297µm 2 ) at follow-up (P Conclusions : MRNFs (mean prevalence per eye:0.4%) showed, in association with higher LDL serum concentration and peripheral located MRNF, an enlargement during a 10-year follow-up, while in the same period no new MRNFs were detected in the total study cohort.