Glaucoma as a cause of optic nerve abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging

To report a series of patients with glaucoma and optic nerve abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in at least one-eye, and to determine whether these findings correlate with the severity of glaucoma.

Retrospective study of all patients who underwent a brain/orbits MRI without and with contrast at our institution between 07/1/2019-6/30/2022. Patients with optic nerve T2-hyperintensity and/or MRI optic nerve atrophy in at least one-eye and a diagnosis of isolated glaucoma in at least one-eye were included. Demographic information, glaucoma clinical characteristics, glaucoma severity parameters, and MRI indication were collected.

Fifty-six patients (112 eyes) (age 65 years-old [range 26–88]; 70% male) had isolated bilateral glaucoma with at least one-eye MRI optic nerve abnormality. The indication for MRI was atypical/asymmetric glaucoma in 91% of patients. Of the 112 eyes, 23 had optic nerve T2-hyperintensity alone; 33 had both optic nerve T2-hyperintensity and MRI optic nerve atrophy; 34 had MRI optic nerve atrophy alone; and 22 did not have abnormal optic nerve MRI-findings. None had optic nerve enhancement. A statistically significant association between optic nerve T2-hyperintensity or MRI optic nerve atrophy and glaucoma severity parameters was found.

Glaucoma is a clinical diagnosis and MRI brain is usually not required, except in atypical or asymmetric cases. Optic nerve T2-hyperintensity and MRI optic nerve atrophy are nonspecific MRI-findings that can be found in severe glaucomatous optic nerves and should not systematically prompt investigations for another cause of optic neuropathy.