J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Feb;52(2):210-215.

Comparison of the Detection Rate, Location and Amount of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect

• Roh YR
• Kwon JW
• Han YK
• Wee WR
• Lee JH
• Park KH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the detection rate of the patients with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect and the amount of RNFL defect according to the patients' age.
METHODS
Retrospective chart reviews of 22,811 subjects, who visited the health care center from January 2009 to December 2009 were performed. The detection rate, location and average amount of RNFL defect and the proportions of the patients who were diagnosed with glaucoma through Humphrey visual field (HVF) test or determined as a glaucomatous optic disc were compared according to the patients' age.
RESULTS
The proportions of the patients whose RNFL defect were detected was highest in the patients 60 years old or older (2.3%) and was statistically significant (p = 0.012). However, there was no significant difference among the other age groups (under 40 years: 1.7%, 40 thru 49 years: 1.5%, 50 thru 59 years: 2.0%). The proportions of the patients who were determined as glaucoma through the HVF test or glaucomatous optic disc were also highest in the patients 60 years old or older (1.4%), however, there was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.070) among the age groups (under 40 years: 1.1%, 40 thru 49 years: 0.9%, 50 thru 59 years: 1.2%).
CONCLUSIONS
The RNFL defect is likely to be detected in subjects less than 40 years of age and the detection rate is similar to subjects in their 40's and 50's. The use of fundus photography to detect RNFL defect in a health care center is recommended in subjects under 40 years of age.

Keyword

Glaucoma; Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect; Routine health check-up

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Glaucoma
Humans
Nerve Fibers
Photography
Retinaldehyde
Retrospective Studies
Visual Fields
Retinaldehyde

Reference

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