Cluster analyses of grid-pattern display in macular parameters using optical coherence tomography for glaucoma...

Using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), we assessed the ability of cluster analyses, based on the grid-pattern of macular parameters, to detect glaucoma.

We enrolled 75 normal eyes, 64 early glaucomatous eyes (EG), and 40 preperimetric glaucomatous eyes (PPG). Each participant was imaged using 3-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) to examine the macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) and the thickness of the ganglion cell layer, together with the inner plexiform layer (GCL/IPL). Diagnostic criteria based on the clustering of abnormal grids from the mRNFL and GCL/IPL measurements were applied. The sensitivity and specificity of glaucoma detection were compared between the cluster criteria (CC) and the average thickness criteria (ATC) of total and hemiretinal sectors, and the cut-off criteria were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses from our normal controls.

The specificity values of CC and ATC from mRNFL measurements were 97% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of CC was 94% for EG and 68% for PPG. The sensitivity of ATC was 81% for EG and 38% for PPG. The specificity values of CC and ATC from GCL/IPL measurements were 96% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity values of CC and ATC were 92% for EG and 63% for PPG. The sensitivity of ATC was 84% for EG and 25% for PPG. When compared to ATC and ROC-based cut-off criteria, CC showed a higher diagnostic capability.

Judging abnormality based on a clustering of abnormal grids from macular OCT parameters may be a reliable approach for diagnosing early glaucoma. (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index/htm9 number, UMIN000006900.).