Visual field defects and nerve fiber layer thickness determined by OCT in glaucoma patients

Buzarovska, Karolina and Golubovic, Milena (2015) Visual field defects and nerve fiber layer thickness determined by OCT in glaucoma patients. Bulgarian Forum Glaucoma, 5 (2). ISSN 1314-5800

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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare visual field (VF) alterations with optical coherence tomography
(OCT) findings in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma and normal age matched controls.
The dilemma: Do all the patients examined in specialist departments as suspects (only elevation in IOP and VF defects)need OCT? The facts: We have new technology equipment, a large number of undiagnosed, mistreated, or new patients in the terminal stage of glaucoma. By using OCT, it’s easy to do the imaging, but not cheap for limited budgets. The usefulness of OCT imaging should be to help us decide along with other tests what to do with a “suspect”, “probable” or “possible” patient with glaucoma.
Materials and method: Visual field parameters and OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements of 30 eyes of 28 glaucoma patients with various stages of glaucoma were compared with 20 eyes of 20 normal age-matched controls.
The RNFL thicknesses measured in glaucoma and control subjects were used to determine local thickness deviation
in all 12 sectors. Description of the results includes mean and standard deviations. RNFL reduction was calculated in absolute (micrometers) and in relative (percentage) values. Correlations of RNFL thicknesses with corresponding visual field defects were examined by using Spearman rank test.
Results: Mean sectoral thicknesses, as measured with OCT, ranged from 60 to 144 micron in the control eyes and from
49 to 87 microns in the glaucomatous eyes. Average RNFL thickness was 70.01+/-14.39 micron in the glaucoma group
and 110.01+/-6.00 micron in the control group (P<0.05). Pattern standard deviation and mean deviation visual fi eld zones and corresponding OCT RNFL thickness sectors were signifi cantly correlated at specifi c sectors in the glaucoma group (P<0.01).
Conclusion: An optic disc evaluation and VF test are sufficient to diagnose glaucoma in most cases. However, OCT can play an important role in detecting glaucoma in cases in which it cannot be identified by optic disc examination and VF. Analysis of RNFL thickness in eyes with glaucomatous visual field defects showed good structural and functional correlation with OCT. Both OCT and HRT showed early ONH and RNFL changes in their parameters and correlated with the findings of the automated perimetry. OCT contributes to the identifi cation of focal defects in the RNFL of glaucoma patients.
Key words: glaucoma, visual fi eld, RNFL, OCT.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Medical and Health Sciences > Clinical medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medical Science
Depositing User: Karolina Blazevska Buzarovska
Date Deposited: 22 Nov 2016 13:47
Last Modified: 22 Nov 2016 13:47
URI: https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/16629

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