Correlation Between Macular, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness, and Visual Field in Open Angle Glaucoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and to evaluate their association with glaucomatous visual field change. METHODS: Forty normal eyes of 24 subjects, 30 ocular hypertension eyes of 15 patients, 30 pre-perimetric glaucoma eyes of 18 patients and 90 open angle glaucoma eyes of 59 patients. The macularand peripapillary RNFL thickness were measured by the optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT(TM) model 3000, Carl Zeiss Meditec) and visual field tests were performed by the Humphrey's automated perimetry. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease of both the macular (p<0.05) and peripapillary RNFL thickness (p<0.001) in the open angle glaucoma group compared with the normal group. In 190 eyes, statistically significant positive relationship was demonstrated between mean deviation (MD) and all areas of peripapillary RNFL thickness (p<0.001) as well as between MD and all areas of macular thickness except the fovea, central ring (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The macular and peripapillary RNFL thickness were significantly decreased and the findings indicated a significant association with the visual field change in open angle glaucoma eyes.