Structure-Functional Parameters in Differentiating Between Patients With Different Degrees of Glaucoma.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Glaucoma Research

Background:

• Open-angle glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy.
• Early detection is crucial to prevent irreversible vision loss.
• Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and visual field testing are key diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of SD-OCT parameters and visual field parameters in identifying different stages of open-angle glaucoma.
• To determine which parameter best differentiates normal eyes from preperimetric glaucoma.
• To assess the utility of GCC and RNFL measurements for early glaucoma diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study included 131 glaucoma patients (preperimetric, mild, moderate, severe) and 40 controls.
• Evaluated SD-OCT parameters (GCC, RNFL, loss volume) and visual field parameters (mean deviation, pattern SD).
• Calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) to assess diagnostic performance.

Main Results:

• Inferior GCC thickness (AUROC, 0.792) and mean GCC thickness (AUROC, 0.741) showed the best discrimination between normal and preperimetric glaucoma eyes.
• GCC measurements were superior to circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) measurements in detecting early glaucomatous damage.

Conclusions:

• GCC measurements are more efficient than cpRNFL measurements for detecting preperimetric glaucomatous damage.
• These findings support the use of GCC measurements for earlier glaucoma diagnosis.
• SD-OCT parameters, particularly GCC thickness, are valuable for identifying early glaucomatous changes.