Abstract
Purpose: :
To analyze the correlation between the thickness of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary nerve fiber layer (NFL) with glaucoma status using Fourier-Domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT).
Methods: :
GCC was the sum of nerve fiber, ganglion cell and inner plexiform layers, which are the retinal layers preferentially affected in glaucoma. The average thickness of GCC and NFL was measured using RTVue-100 Fourier-Domain OCT (software version: 3.5.2.0; Optovue) in 159 subjects, including 64 normal subjects (N), 47 glaucoma suspects (GS), and 48 open angular glaucoma patients (OAG). For each binocular subject, one randomly eye was chosen for analysis. The GCC and NHM4 protocols were used for obtaining images in all subjects. Normal eyes served as the control group.
Results: :
The average GCC thicknesses of N, GS and OAG eyes are 102.20 ± 5.28µm, 93.65 ± 11.79µm and 76.30 ± 8.13µm, respectively. The NFL thicknesses of them are 109.4 ± 15.72µm, 100.6 ± 15.32µm and 77.57 ± 10.70µm, respectively. The average thicknesses of GCC and NFL were statistically significantly different comparing N and either GS or OAG eyes (P < 0.001). The GCC thickness correlated well with NFL thickness [correlation coefficients for all eyes, N, GS and OAG eyes are 0.7646 (P<0.0001), 0.3968 (P=0.0012), 0.8217 (P<0.0001) and 0.8141 (P<0.0001)]. Area under receiver operating curve (AROC) of GCC and NFL are 0.9982 (P< 0.0001) and 0.9770 (P< 0.0001).
Conclusions: :
Both GCC and NFL thickness as measured by FD-OCT showed statistically significant correlations with glaucoma. GCC thickness measurements may be a promising parameter as NFL thickness in the clinical assessment of glaucoma.
Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • ganglion cells • nerve fiber layer