Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
07:44
In vivo Structural Assessments of Ocular Disease in Rodent Models using Optical Coherence Tomography
Published on: July 24, 2020
Structure-function relationships using the Cirrus spectral domain optical coherence tomograph and standard automated
Mauro T Leite1, Linda M Zangwill, Robert N Weinreb
1Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Journal of Glaucoma
|September 29, 2011
Summary
Glaucoma damage to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measured by Cirrus Spectral Domain OCT (SDOCT) correlates with visual field loss detected by standard automated perimetry (SAP). This confirms RNFL thinning is linked to functional vision impairment in glaucoma patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Imaging
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Accurate assessment of glaucoma's structural and functional impact is crucial for patient management.
- Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SDOCT) and Standard Automated Perimetry (SAP) are key diagnostic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between structural damage in glaucoma, assessed using Cirrus SDOCT, and functional vision loss measured by SAP.
- To determine the strength of the relationship between specific retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness sectors and corresponding visual field locations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 250 patients (422 eyes) including healthy, suspect, and glaucomatous individuals were analyzed.
- Eyes underwent Cirrus SDOCT for RNFL thickness and SAP for visual field sensitivity within a 6-month interval.
- Regression analysis and the Hood model were used to evaluate the structure-function relationship.
Main Results:
- A significant relationship was found between RNFL thickness and visual field sensitivity across most sectors.
- The strongest correlation was observed between superotemporal RNFL thickness and inferonasal visual field sensitivity (R(2)=0.314).
- The Hood model demonstrated a good fit, with 88% of eyes falling within the predicted 95% confidence interval.
Conclusions:
- Cirrus SDOCT-measured RNFL thinning is significantly associated with corresponding visual field defects in glaucoma.
- This study validates the use of SDOCT for quantifying structural damage that underlies functional vision loss in glaucoma.
- The findings support the integration of SDOCT and SAP data for comprehensive glaucoma assessment.
