Real-Time Ultrasound Elastographic Features of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

To investigate the significance of ultrasound elastography for evaluating the optic nerve in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

This prospective, comparative case series included 40 eyes of 40 patients. Twenty eyes with POAG comprised the POAG group, and 20 eyes of 20 patients without glaucoma who admitted to general eye clinic for near vision glasses comprised the control group. All real-time sonographicelastographic examinations were performed by the same physician. The ratio of orbital fat to optic nerve head (ROFON) and lateral rectus to optic nerve head (RLRON) were determined. Statistical analyses were performed using Student t test, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and χ test.

The mean ages of the patients in the study and the control groups were 65.10 ± 7.88 years (range, 48-80 years), and 69.15 ± 7.92 years (range, 55-89 years), respectively (P = 0.113). Mean ROFONs were 1.85 and 6.42 (P < 0.05), and mean RLRONs were 0.65 and 1.07 (P < 0.05) in the control and POAG groups, respectively.

Real-time elastography showed increased ROFON and RLRON in POAG patients. This can help to understand optic nerve head biomechanics and clarify glaucoma damage in early glaucoma cases.