Head tilt affects RNFL and macular thickness measurements

Retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and macular thickness are influenced by the patient's head tilt, according to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr Yong Yeon Kim et al., Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, studied 30 eyes from 30 young and healthy patients. The measurements were performed at baseline, right and left head position. RNFL and macular thickness were measured using the Cirrus HD spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Cirrus HD OCT).

The clinicians found that with a right head tilt position there was a thinning of the inferior-temporal RNFL and a thickening of the superior-temporal RNFL, which was reversed for the left head tilt.

Based on the results it was concluded that considerations of a patient's head tilt should be made when analysing measurements from the Cirrus HD OCT.