A mathematical description of nerve fiber bundle trajectories and their variability in the human retina

• Published in: Vision research (Oxford) Vol. 49; no. 17; pp. 2157 - 2163
• Main Authors: Jansonius, N.M., Nevalainen, J., Selig, B., Zangwill, L.M., Sample, P.A., Budde, W.M., Jonas, J.B., Lagrèze, W.A., Airaksinen, P.J., Vonthein, R., Levin, L.A., Paetzold, J., Schiefer, U.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 28.08.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glaucoma; Glaucoma - pathology; Glaucoma and intraocular pressure; Humans; Medical sciences; Models, Neurological; Nerve Fibers - pathology; Neuro-ophthalmology; Ophthalmology; Optic Disk - pathology; Optic nerve head; Perimetry; Retinal Neurons - pathology; Retrospective Studies; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Visual Field Tests - methods; Visual Fields; Glaucoma; Optic nerve head; Perimetry; Neuro-ophthalmology; Human; Optic nerve; Variability; Retina; Eye; Visual system; Eye disease; Visual pathway; Glaucoma (eye); Nerve fiber
• ISSN: 0042-6989; 1878-5646
• DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2009.04.029

We developed a mathematical model wherein retinal nerve fiber trajectories can be described and the corresponding inter-subject variability analyzed. The model was based on traced nerve fiber bundle trajectories extracted from 55 fundus photographs of 55 human subjects. The model resembled the typical retinal nerve fiber layer course within 20° eccentricity. Depending on the location of the visual field test point, the standard deviation of the calculated corresponding angular location at the optic nerve head circumference ranged from less than 1° to 18°, with an average of 8.8°.