Purpose
To analyze the correlation between 3-Tesla high-speed magnetic resonance imaging (MR) findings of the intraorbital optic nerve and lateral geniculate body (LGB), and structural evaluation of the optic nerve head or visual function assessed by psychophysical tests in glaucomatous patients.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional prospective study including healthy volunteers and glaucoma patients. All participants performed SITA-standard 24-2 automated perimetry (SAP) and frequency doubling perimetry (FDT) (psychophysical tests), optic disc stereophotograph, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), confocal scanning laser tomography (HRT), (structural evaluation) and MR. Anatomic-functional correlation was performed with Generalized Linear Models.
Results
41 glaucoma patients and 12 healthy volunteers were included and 56,86% was female. Mean age was 62,87±0,71 years in glaucoma group and 62,3±6,17 healthy group. There was a significant difference between the height of LGB in glaucoma group (mean: 0.38 mm) and in the control group (mean: 0.41 mm), p=0.005. No significant difference was found regarding base length and area of LGB between the two groups. Regarding orbital segment area of the optic nerve, a significant difference between the two groups was found 5mm from the globe (P=0.003) but not for 10 mm and 15 mm (P>0.05). LGB parameters were not significantly associated with any structural parameter tested (Average OCT RNFL thickness, HRT cup/disk ratio, stereo photo cup/disk ratio) as well as for any functional parameter (SAP MD, SAP VFI and FDT MD). Proximal (5mm) intraorbital optic nerve area was significant correlated with FDT MD (p=0.008) but with no other tested parameter.
Conclusions
Glaucoma patients presented a significant difference in height of LGB as well as a lower area of the proximal (5mm) intraorbital optic nerve segment. Functional and structural ocular parameters were not well associated with both intraorbital optic nerve segment areas or LGB parameters.
Keywords: 552 imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) •
755 visual cortex •
550 imaging/image analysis: clinical