RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER THICKNESS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Abstract

PURPOSE- To study the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer in cases of primary open angle glaucoma and compare it with normal population of same age group using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).
MATERIALS AND METHODS – The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness 360° and the four-quadrant average RNFL thickness (superior, nasal, inferior, and temporal) were quantitatively measured using SD-OCT in a prospective observational and case control research. Over the course of a year, the research was carried out at the tertiary eye care hospital's glaucoma department. The research comprised 60 eyes from 30 patients with POAG between the ages of 40 and 65 as well as age- and gender-matched 60 eyes from 30 healthy volunteers. Exclusions from the research included patients with significant media opacity, retinal disease, and intraocular surgery histories. Patients enrolled in the research gave their informed permission. Slit lamp, Snellen's chart, Applanation tonometer, Gonioscope, and 90 D slit lamp biomicroscope were used to analyze each one in order to research Fundus oculi. Three groups of glaucomatous eyes were separated based on visual field abnormalities. Additionally, RNFL thickness and MD correlation was carried out.
Results - In participants with control, early glaucoma, moderate glaucoma, and severe glaucoma, the average RNFL thickness was 88.8+/- 7.31, 61.68 ±10.66, 61.43 ±12.43, and 52.88±5.72 µm, respectively. Between the normal and all glaucoma categories, there was a significant difference in all RNFL thickness measurements (P<0.001). In glaucoma-affected eyes, the mean deviation demonstrated a significant connection (P<0.02) with RNFL thickness.