Abstract
Purpose: :
To compare macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness measurements between glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eye in unilateral normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and evaluate the association of peripapillary choroidal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), visual field defect, respectively.
Methods: :
Choroidal thickness was measured with spectralis optical coherence tomography in total 30 patients. We measured macular choroidal thickness (fovea and in the nasal and the temporal side 1.5, 3mm away from fovea), total average peripapillary choroidal thickness (8 points every 45°) and sector peripapillary choroidal thickness underlying RNFL defect lesion. We compared choroidal thickness measurements between glaucomatous eye and nonglaucomatous eye. We further compared peripapillary choroidal thickness among three groups (early, moderate, and advanced depending on visual field stage).
Results: :
There was no statistically significant difference at fovea, in the nasal and temporal area between two eyes. In aspect of peripapillary choroidal thickness, 63% of patients showed no significant difference between two eyes, 18.5% showed the higher value in glaucomatous eye and 18.5% showed the lower value in glaucomatous eye than nonglaucomatous eye. Comparing with nonglaucomatous eye, there was no consistent trend of peripapillary choroidal thickness compatible to RNFL defect (no difference : 33.3%, higher in glaucomatous eye : 40.7%, lower in glaucomatous eye : 26%). There was no statistically significant difference of peripapillary choroidal thickness depending on visual field stage (p>0.05).
Conclusions: :
In unilateral NTG, there was no significant difference in macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness between two eye. It imply that macular and peripapillary choroidal thickness may be less likely associated with NTG pathogenesis.