Abstract
Purpose: :
Larger ganglion cells are selectively damaged in high–tension glaucoma, and M–cells are thought to be more damaged than P–cells. We compared the degree of functional damage and retinal nerve thickness in high–tension glaucoma and normal–tension glaucoma.
Methods: :
Thirty–seven eyes of 37 POAG patients and 37 eyes of 37 NTG patients were studied. Mean deviation (MD) of Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA; 24–2 program) averaged –3.6±3.6 dB in POAG group and –3.1±2.6 dB in NTG group with no significant difference. All subjects were experienced with automated perimetry and had corrected visual acuity of at least 1.0 with no ocular media opacity. The 24–2 program of Humphrey Matrix was performed on each subject, and MD and pattern standard deviation (PSD) were compared between two groups. Peripapillary retinal nerve layer (RNFL) thickness was measured by GDx–VCC, and GDx parameters of TSNIT average, superior average, inferior average, TSNIT standard deviation and nerve fiber indicator (NFI) were compared between two groups.
Results: :
The MD of Humphrey Matrix averaged –7.4±4.2 dB and –6.5±3.6 dB, and PSD averaged 6.2±1.9 dB and 6.0±1.7 dB in POAG group and NTG group, respectively, with no significant differences. The mean values of TSNIT average, superior average, and TSNIT standard deviation were significantly lower in POAG group compared with NTG group (p<0.01, p<0.001, P<0.05, respectively), and NFI was significantly greater in POAG group compared with NTG group (p<0.01).
Conclusions: :
The degree of M–cell damage was the same in POAG and NTG, but the RNFL was significantly thinner in POAG than in NTG.
Keywords: visual fields • imaging/image analysis: clinical • perimetry