Relationship Between Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Macular and Peripapillary Measurements and Automated Visual Fields

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: In a previous study we demonstrated the ability of macular OCT measurements to differentiate between normal and glaucomatous eyes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between OCT macular and peripapillary thickness and automated visual field (VF) findings. Methods: 101 consecutive subjects (150 eyes) from the New England Eye Center Glaucoma Service underwent VF testing and prototype OCT scanning of the macula and peripapillary area. The study group was divided into subjects without VF defects and subjects with either superior or inferior defects. OCT measurements were evaluated in the corresponding locations (superior VF defect with inferior OCT area and vice versa) and compared between subjects with or without VF defect. Results: Significant superior macular thinning was found in subjects with an inferior VF defect when compared to subjects without VF defect (p = 0.0006). Similarly, subjects with a superior VF defect had inferior macular thinning (p = 0.01). For both groups the difference in the outer macular ring (inner diameter 3mm, outer diameter 6mm) was more remarkable than the inner ring (inner diameter 1mm, outer diameter 3mm). The areas under the receiver operator characteristic (AROC) curves for the associations between macular thickness and corresponding VF defect was in the range of 0.59 – 0.69 in the macula. AROCs for superior and inferior hemifield peripapillary nerve fiber layer (NFL) for the corresponding VF defect were 0.81 and 0.83 respectively. Conclusions: Macular thickness as measured by OCT is capable of detecting glaucomatous damage; however, peripapillary NFL thickness performs better for glaucoma detection as defined by the presence of VF defect.

Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, S • visual fields • nerve fiber layer