Abstract
Purpose :
To compare lamina cribrosa (LC) morphology between eyes with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and eyes with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
Methods :
This study included 48 eyes each with NAION and NTG and 48 healthy control eyes matched by age, intraocular pressure, axial length, and optic disc area. Eyes with NAION and NTG were also matched by retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the affected sector. Optic nerve heads were scanned using enhanced depth-imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. LC depth (LCD) and LC curvature index (LCCI) were measured at seven locations spaced equidistantly across the vertical optic disc diameter. LCD and LCCI were compared in the three groups, and the diagnostic abilities of those parameters to differentiate NAION from NTG were determined.
Results :
LCD and LCCI were significantly larger in the NTG group than in the NAION and healthy control groups at all seven planes (P < 0.001 each), but were comparable in the NAION and healthy control groups. The diagnostic ability of average LCCI to discriminate NAION from NTG was excellent (AUC, 0.937; sensitivity, 81.3%; specificity, 91.7%) and was significantly better than that of average LCD (AUC, 0.772; sensitivity, 68.8%; specificity, 77.1%; P < 0.001).
Conclusions :
LC morphology differed in eyes with NAION and NTG, despite a similar degree of RNFL damage. LCCI showed an excellent capability to distinguish between NAION and NTG. Evaluation of LC morphology may help differentiate NAION from NTG eyes.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.