Screening for preclinical chloroquine maculopathy using microperimetry and spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of microperimetry and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in screening of preclinical chloroquine maculopathy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Study design This is a cross-sectional comparative study. Patients and methods The study included 20 eyes of RA patients treated with chloroquine for more than 1 year (Group A), and 20 eyes of RA patients not treated by chloroquine (Group B). All patients were subjected to full ophthalmological examination, imaging with SD-OCT, and microperimetry. The study group ranged in age from 40 to 65 years with normal fundus. Results The mean central foveal thickness was found to be thin both in Group A (178.25±33.27 μm) and Group B (180.15±36.56 μm), with a statistically nonsignificant difference between the two groups (P=0.864). The mean parafoveal thickness was thinner than normal in both groups in all quadrants (P0.05) in all quadrants. The mean test score perimetry and the mean foveal sensitivity were decreased in Group A (11.12±4.11 and 11.73±3.92, respectively) compared with Group B (12.86±2.14 and 13.10±2.48, respectively), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.104 and 0.194, respectively). Conclusion Retinal thinning in the form of foveal and parafoveal thinning was detected by SD-OCT in patients of both groups, whereas decreased macular sensitivity was detected in the chloroquine group only with normal macular sensitivity in the nonchloroquine group as detected by microperimetry