Investigating Nerve Fiber Layer and Retinal Ganglion Layer Cells in Patients with Essential Tremor

 Based on literatures, the patients with essential tremor have a thinner Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) layer in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging, compared to the healthy population. Thus, we decided to examine the ocular-neural state of patients with essential tremor, by examining RNFL and Retinal Ganglion Cell Layer (RGCL) in the OCT reports of patients referred to Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital in the years 2020 to 2022.

 This research was implemented in the form of case-control study.50 patients were recruited into each group of tremor, and healthy controls. OCT parameters, including thickness of RNFL and RGCL were evaluated and recorded.

 The study findings revealed a significant difference in the mean superior, superior nasal, superior temporal sections of the right eye and superior temporal and inferior temporal regions of the left eye in RNFL between the control group and all patients (P < 0.01). Moreover, the results showed that there was a significant difference in the GCL in superior 6 mm of the right and left eye between the control group, and all patients (P <0.01).

 Regarding the results this study, it seems that patients with essential tremor have a significant decrease in some RNFL and GCL factors compared to healthy people. However, the majority of variables examined from RNFL and GCL in our study did not show significant differences. Moreover, this thinning could be associated with the neurodegenerative nature of the disease.