Abstract
Purpose :
An informative parameter in monitoring primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is retinal nerve fiber layer, namely the sectoral changes in RNFL thickness. The purpose of this study was to identify differences of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) between Central Asian and Caucasian population with POAG.
Methods :
Data from Kazakh, Uzbek, Korean, (N= 69) and Russian, German, Ukrain with confirmed POAG (N= 67) age 38 -73 yr were collected. All patients were with stage II primary open angle glaucoma. Visual acuity, refraction, IOP (non contact tonometer, Tomey FT -1000), slit lamp and fundus examination, ultrasound biometry of lens and vitreous (OcuScan, Alcon), visual field (HFI 750i, Carl Zeiss) were measured and analyzed. The thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer was measured in all patients with Heidelberg retina tomography parameters (HRT III Heidelberg Engineering). Parameters RNFL thickness further analyzed by sector: temporal (T), nasal (N),inferior (I), superior (S) segments for setting the thickness of the peripapillary nerve fibers.
Results :
On HRT in Asian subjects RNFL : averaged S = 0.25.16μm ± 0,17 (p<0.003); T=0.15μm ± 0,06 (p<0.001); I=0.23μm ± 11.87 (p<0.001); N=0.16μm ± 14,06 (p<0.003).
In Caucasians: averaged S = 0.29μm ± 0,17 (p<0.004); T=0.21μm ± 0,06 (p<0.001); I=0.27μm ± 10,06 (p<0.001); N=0.22μm ± 13,06 (p<0.005). IOP in Asians averaged 26.6 ± 0.5 mm vs Caucasians with POAG 25.4 ± 0.7 mm.
Conclusions :
In monitoring POAG an informative parameter was retinal nerve fiber layer, namely the sectoral changes in RNFL thickness in the inferior-temporal, and superior-temporal divisions.
These findings identified differences of RNFL between Asian and reported Caucasian RNFL. In the Asian population average RNFL was thinner than in Caucasian subjects with the same stage of POAG. All these findings may suggest that Asian patients with POAG may progress faster than Caucasian. All of these factors should be taken into account when performing diagnostics for glaucoma patients of Asian decent.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.