Clinicopathologic correlation of disc and peripapillary region using SD-OCT

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary anatomy evaluation is crucial for diagnosing and managing glaucoma.
• Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) offers high-resolution imaging for detailed structural assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and validate a spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) raster scanning technique for quantifying human ONH and peripapillary anatomy.
• To compare key anatomical parameters across different diagnostic categories, including glaucoma subtypes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 95 eyes using Cirrus 5-line raster SD-OCT scans.
• Manual measurement of neural canal opening (NCO), prelaminar canal depth (PLCD), peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT), and canal nerve fiber layer (CNFL).
• Comparison of parameters across normal, ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), low-pressure glaucoma (LPG), secondary glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration groups.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in horizontal NCO between LPG and normal eyes.
• Thinner PPCT observed in glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration compared to controls.
• Reduced CNFL in POAG and LPG compared to normals; inverse correlation between CNFL and PLCD.
• PLCD positively correlated with PPCT; PLCD and central corneal thickness (CCT) inversely correlated when controlling for PPCT.

Conclusions:

• SD-OCT raster scanning is a viable method for quantifying ONH anatomy in vivo.
• Distinct structural vulnerability may exist in LPG, indicated by NCO differences.
• CNFL, PPCT, and PLCD are significant parameters for glaucoma assessment, with PLCD potentially playing a role in glaucoma pathogenesis.