The Relationship Between MRI-Measured Structure of the Visual Cortex and Visual Function in Patients With Glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Radiology

Background:

• Glaucoma is known to cause atrophy in the primary visual cortex.
• Understanding which specific areas of the visual cortex are most affected by glaucoma is crucial for diagnosis and monitoring.
• Retinotopic mapping defines the relationship between the visual field and the primary visual cortex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between ophthalmic parameters and structural changes in the primary visual cortex using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• To identify specific regions within the primary visual cortex that reflect glaucomatous changes.

Main Methods:

• 12 healthy subjects and 23 glaucoma patients underwent 3D-T1-weighted MRI to measure gray matter density in the visual cortex.
• Optical coherence tomography and visual field testing were performed.
• Weighted count of retinal ganglion cells (wRGC) was calculated, and Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze relationships.

Main Results:

• The overall primary visual cortex showed positive correlations with mean deviation (MD) and wRGC.
• The inner area of the visual cortex, corresponding to the peripheral visual field, was significantly correlated with MD and wRGC.

Conclusions:

• The peripheral visual field representation in the primary visual cortex is closely associated with key ophthalmologic parameters in glaucoma.
• MRI evaluation of this specific brain region may offer clinical utility for glaucoma assessment and progression monitoring.