Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements of the nerve fiber layer (NFL) thickness correlate with the presence of visual field defects (VFD) in patients with anomalous optic discs and whether NFL thickness can be used to predict the presence of a VFD. Methods: Prospective study of OCT NFL thickness measurements in 61 eyes of 32 subjects. All persons received OCT NFL thickness analysis at 3.4 mm centered on optic disc. As well, each individual underwent Swedish interactive threshold algorithm (SITA) 24–2 perimetry. Results: The mean NFL thickness with (n=50) and without (n=11) a VFD was 77.8 um +/– 20.3 um and 87.6 um +/– 27.3 um (P=0.27). The area under the receiver operator characteristic (AROC) curve for mean NFL was 0.63, and the optimal mean NFL thickness, highest sensitivity and specificity, for detecting a VFD was 77.3 um. The positive predictive value (PPV) for detecting a VFD using the optimal mean NFL thickness as a lower limit was 90.9%. Conclusions: Nerve fiber layer thickness analysis using OCT may be clinically useful in identifying subjects with anomalous optic discs who have visual field loss. Since NFL damage occurs prior to the development of a VFD, then perhaps OCT–measured NFL thickness in this group of patients could predict the future development of VFD in subjects with glaucoma.
Keywords: optic disc • nerve fiber layer • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)