[Reliable recognition of glaucoma by spectral domain optical coherence tomography?]

The latest approach to diagnosing glaucoma by high resolution spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) is to assess the minimal rim width (MRW) of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) at the Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) in the optic disk margin.

This study was carried out to evaluate if this new parameter allows a more precise detection of glaucomatous damage to the RNFL.

This article presents clinical examples and differences in the measurement methods in glaucoma cases.

The main advantage is the automated detection by software allowing precise landmark tracking and coherent follow-up investigations. There seem to be considerable differences between the funduscopically assumed margin and the detection of the margin by the new software. Likewise there is a difference between RNFL measurements taken at the BMO and the peripapillary scan by SD-OCT.

Ongoing research should assess the potential of this new parameter for a more precise detection of nerve fiber defects and changes over time compared to other imaging techniques.