Kuen, Wong Chee
(2016)
Comparison of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macula thickness and optic nerve head parameters in opioid dependent and normal adult.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
Introduction
Drug abuse is a socioeconomic problem that affects the public of the country. Heroin
and morphine, which falls under the opioid group continues to be the commonest drug
of abuse in Malaysia. Opioid usage is associated with addiction and dependence, and
reported ocular side effects are pupillary miosis, conjunctiva hyperemia, ocular motility
disorder and risk of complication such as endophtalmitis. It was also reported that
chronic opioid usage leads to neurological degeneration.
Objective
To compare the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, macula thickness and optic nerve
head parameters in opioid dependent and normal adult.
Method
The study design was a case control with opioid dependent individuals and healthy
individuals recruited from the Methadone Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and
Ophthalmology Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universiti Sains
Malaysia. Thirty five opioid dependent subjects and thirty five healthy subjects with no
history of opioid use were recruited. Ophthalmological examination and optical
coherence tomography (Heidelberg Spectralis ® OCT) were performed.
Results
Compared to normal healthy subjects, opioid dependent group has thinner average
retinal nerve fiber layer in the right eye (p<0.05) and in both superior quadrant of the
optic nerve (p<0.05). Analysis of other segments did not show any statistical
significance
Conclusion
Early thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer could be one of the early signs of
complication from long term opioid usage. Further studies may be needed to determine
if further thinning occurs with time and the implication to the patients’ vision.
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