ObjectiveTo observe the thickness of per-papillary retinal fiber layer (pRNFL) and structural changes of inner macular segmented layers in optic neuritis (ON) patients with positive aquaporin-4 antibody[AQP4-Ab(+)]. Methods60 ON patients (84 eyes) including 30 of AQP4-Ab(+) ON patients (42 eyes) and AQP4-Ab(-) ON patients (42 eyes), and 40 age-gender matched health controls(80 eyes) were recruited in present study. There was no statistical significance in gender (χ2=0.568) and age (χ2=1.472) between the three groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the percentage of different course (χ2=0.000) and logMAR best corrected visual acuity (Z=-1.492) between AQP4-Ab(+)ON and AQP4-Ab(-)ON group (P=1.000, 0.136). All subjects were examined by Spectralis-OCT. The thickness of per-papillary, nasal, nasal lower, temporal lower, temporal, temporal upper, nasal upper and papillomacular bundle (PMB) were analyzed as well as nasal pRNFL/temporal pRNFL (N/T). The macular area was divided into three concentric circles which including central region with 1 mm diameter, inner area with > 1 mm but≤3 mm diameter, and outer ring area with > 3 mm but≤6 mm diameter. The macular volume in each partition and volume in macular RNFL (mRNFL), macular ganglion cell layer (mRGCL), macular inner plexiform layer (mIPL) and macular inner nuclear layer (mINL) were analyzed. ResultsCompared to HC group, the thickness of pRNFL, every quadrants and PMB were decreased significantly in ON group (P=0.000); the macular volume and the volume of mRNFL, mRGCL, mIPL were also decreased significantly in ON group (P=0.000); but there was no statistical difference in mINL volume between two groups (P=0.700). Compared to AQP4-Ab(-)ON group, the thickness of nasal and nasal lower were decreased significantly in AQP4-Ab(+)ON group (P=0.010, 0.000); the macular and mIPL volume were also decreased significantly in AQP4-Ab(+)ON group (P=0.038, 0.033); the thickness of inferior, superior and inferior mIPL in outer ring area and nasal mRNFL in inner area were decreased significantly in AQP4-Ab(+)ON group (P < 0.05). ConclusionsCompared to AQP4-Ab(-)ON patients, the pRNFL thickness and mIPL volume decreased in AQP4-Ab(+)ON patients. The thinner pRNFL area is mainly located in nasal, nasal lower quadrants, and inferior, superior mIPL.