Pattern Electroretinogram Parameters Are Associated with Optic Nerve Morphology in Preperimetric Glaucoma after...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Preperimetric glaucoma is challenging to diagnose due to subtle structural changes.
• Optic nerve head (ONH) structure and function are critical indicators of glaucoma progression.
• Pattern electroretinogram (PERG) assesses retinal ganglion cell function, while optical coherence tomography (OCT) quantifies ONH morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between PERG parameters and OCT-derived ONH measurements in preperimetric glaucoma.
• To determine if PERG abnormalities can predict structural ONH damage, specifically rim area loss, after accounting for disc area.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-two eyes from 20 subjects with preperimetric glaucoma were analyzed.
• Both PERG (Magnitude, MagnitudeD, MagnitudeD/Magnitude ratio) and OCT (rim area, RNFL thickness, BMO-MRW) parameters were measured.
• Statistical analyses were performed controlling for the influence of disc area.

Main Results:

• PERG parameters showed significant associations with rim area, Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) sectors, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness sectors.
• PERG parameters explained a significant portion of the variance in rim area and BMO-MRW global measurements.
• Specific PERG parameters were strongly correlated with temporal superior and nasal inferior BMO-MRW sectors, and superior, nasal superior, and inferior RNFL sectors.

Conclusions:

• PERG abnormalities are indicative of and can predict rim area loss in preperimetric glaucoma.
• Controlling for disc area in analyses enhances the diagnostic accuracy of PERG for early glaucoma detection.
• These findings support the use of PERG in conjunction with OCT for comprehensive glaucoma assessment.