Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the presence of RNFL thinning corresponding to the unaffected hemifield in glaucoma eyes with visual field (VF) loss restricted to one hemifield.
Methods: :
RNFL thickness corresponding to unaffected areas of the VF from glaucoma eyes with an altitudinal VF defect (n=29) were compared with the RNFL thickness in corresponding quadrants from controls with healthy eyes (n=29). Visual field sensitivity (VFS) was averaged in the unaffected hemifield.
Results: :
RNFL thickness in corresponding unaffected hemifields in glaucoma eyes were significantly lower (74.5±11µm) than in corresponding quadrants of the optic disc in normal control (119.24±3.5µm) eyes (P<0.001). On the basis of the normative database supplied by OCT software, 76% of eyes had abnormal RNFL thickness in corresponding unaffected hemifields. No correlation was found between RNFL thickness and VFS in the unaffected hemifields (r=0.2; P=0.3).
Conclusions: :
OCT demonstrated loss of RNFL in sectors of the optic disc that corresponded to unaffected hemifield in glaucoma eyes with altitudinal VF, suggesting greater damage beyond the extent estimated by VF methods.
Keywords: nerve fiber layer • optic nerve • clinical research methodology