Diurnal macular choroidal area fluctuation in normal and primary open angle glaucoma groups

To assess and compare the diurnal macular choroidal area fluctuation in normal and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) groups using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).

Twenty-eight normal and 27 POAG eyes were enrolled in this study. EDI-OCT was used to measure the macular choroidal area every 3h from 9:00 a.m. to 21:00 p.m.

Significant diurnal fluctuations of macular choroidal area were observed in both normal (P=0.003) and POAG groups (P<0.001). But no significant macular choroidal area difference has been found between the two groups at all the five measurement time-points (512778±166242 vs 455079±207278 µm², P=0.195 at 9:00 a.m.; 501526±168953 vs 447846±211147 µm², P=0.245 at 12:00 a.m.; 501982±173158 vs 448024±206653 µm², P=0.239 at 15:00 p.m.; 508912±174589 vs 457783±207081 µm², P=0.252 at 18:00 p.m.; 503787±171241 vs 453230±205955 µm², P=0.274 at 21:00 p.m.; respectively). Furthermore, neither the fluctuation manners nor the change in macular choroidal area between the two adjacent measurement time points showed significant difference between normal and POAG groups (all P>0.05). In the meantime, significant diurnal intraocular pressure fluctuations were also observed in normal and POAG groups (both P<0.001).

In diurnal time, the macular choroidal area in both normal and POAG groups fluctuated significantly; moreover, neither the value of macular choroidal area, nor the fluctuation of macular choroidal area in POAG group is significantly different from that in normal group.