Abstract: Objectives  This is a cross-sectional survey to observe the distribution of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) by ultrasound measurement in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.  Method  The MHD patients treated in the period from September to October 2022 were recruited. Ultrasound examination of both eyes was performed by one examiner. The ONSD of an eye was measured from the longitudinal and transverse eye sections 3mm after the bulb, and the two values were then averaged.  Results  A total of 206 MHD patients were enrolled, with the mean age of 60.2±14.3 years, the mean dialysis age of 62.5 (26.0～113.0) months, and 80.6% female patients (166 cases). Diabetic nephropathy was found in 71 cases (34.5%), and coronary heart disease was found in 40 cases (19.4%). The average ONSD was higher in males than in females (t=3.180, P=0.002). The average ONSD of left eyes was greater in males than in females (t=-3.399, P=0.001). The average ONSD of both eyes increased significantly in MHD patients with diabetes, as compared with those without diabetes (t=-3.824, P＜0.001). In contrast, the average ONSD of both eyes had no differences between the MHD patients with and without coronary heart disease (t=-1.064, P=0.289).  Conclusion  The distribution of ONSD is closely related to gender and the diabetic nephropathy in MHD patients. Clinically, the left side ONSD is significantly higher than that of right side in male patients with diabetic nephropathy. 

Key words: Ultrasound measurement, Optic nerve sheath diameter, Hemodialysis, Intracranial pressure