AIM:By optical coherence tomography to observe macular thickness change characteristics and foveal images of patients with retinitis pigmentosa(RP).

METHODS: From September 2014 to September 2016, 74 patients(148 eyes)with retinitis pigmentosa diagnosed in our hospital were selected, and 50 healthy subjects(100 eyes)as normal controls; two groups received optical coherence tomography and fundus camera detection. The images of the macular were obtained to observe and measure the thickness of the macular fovea and at 4mm temporal side, the center of papillo macular bundle.

RESULTS:The results showed that: the thickness of the macular fovea and at 4mm temporal side of RP patients were the same as normal controls without statistically significant(P>0.05); the thickness of the center of papillo macular bundle was less than that of normal control with statistically significant(P<0.05). There were five types characteristics in OCT imges in RP patients: macular edema in 19 patients 38 eyes; retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal capillary thinning in 18 patients 36 eyes; retinal pigment epithelium atrophy in 12 patients 24 eyes; normal in 12 patients 24 eyes; different thickness of pigment epithelium layer in 13 patients 26 eyes.

CONCLUSION: Optical coherence tomography(OCT)can be used to detect the macular lesions in a timely manner, to help understanding the development of the disease, and provide the clinical basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of patients.