Abstract

Background: Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide, affecting more than one billion individuals and representing a major cause of disability, particularly among young adults. The thinning of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layers in migraine patients, suggesting chronic neuronal injury secondary to repeated ischemic and vasospastic episodes.

Aims & Objectives: To assess the association between migraine and changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness using Optical Coherence Tomography.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 56 Patients with Migraine attending out-patient department of Ophthalmology, at R. L. JALAPPA HOSPITAL, Kolar from July 2026 to June 2027.

Results: The mean average pRNFL thickness was lower in migraine patients (98.9 ± 7.9 µm) compared with non-migraine participants (104.7 ± 6.6 µm), and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.004). Migraine patients had significantly reduced pRNFL, GCC and GCC++ thickness in comparison with non-migraine individuals, suggesting measurable retinal structural differences associated with migraine.

Conclusion: The repeated neurovascular alterations, vasospasm, and chronic ischemic episodes associated with migraine may contribute to subclinical retinal neuronal injury and neurodegeneration. Consequently, spectral-domain OCT measurements of pRNFL and GCC thickness hold potential utility as objective structural biomarkers for monitoring ocular involvement and neurodegenerative changes in migraine patients.