Optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of structural changes in primary open-angle glaucoma with and without...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy damaging retinal ganglion cells.
• Evaluating visual field changes and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness is crucial for glaucoma management.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a key imaging technique for assessing RNFL thickness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare visual field changes and RNFL thickness using OCT in primary open-angle glaucoma patients with normal intraocular pressure (NTG) versus elevated intraocular pressure (HTG).
• To investigate the relationship between structural glaucomatous damage and functional visual field deficits in different IOP groups.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study comparing 50 primary open-angle glaucoma patients with elevated intraocular pressure (HTG) and 38 patients with normal intraocular pressure (NTG).
• Patients were paired based on similar optic nerve head structural changes and age.
• OCT 'fast RNFL thickness' and 'fast optic disc' protocols were employed to measure RNFL thickness and optic disc parameters.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found in age, gender, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cup/disc ratio, mean deviation, corrected pattern standard deviation, disk area, rim area, rim volume, or RNFL thickness (average, superior, inferior) between NTG and HTG groups.
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly higher in the HTG group (17.40 ± 2.77 mmHg) compared to the NTG group (14.95 ± 3.01 mmHg).

Conclusions:

• OCT measurements of RNFL thickness provide clinically significant information for monitoring glaucomatous changes.
• No significant differences in RNFL defect patterns were observed between NTG and HTG patients when measured by OCT.