Korean J Ophthalmol.  2015 Aug;29(4):263-269. 10.3341/kjo.2015.29.4.263.

Relationship between Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measured by Optical Coherence Tomography and Visual Field Severity Indices

• Kang EM
• Hong S
• Kim CY
• Seong GJ

• KMID: 2363771
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2015.29.4.263

Abstract

PURPOSE
Though there are many reports regarding the structure-function relationship in glaucoma, they are too complicated to apply to the routine clinical setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the direct relationship between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual field (VF) severity indices computed by standard automated perimetry.
METHODS
This cross-sectional comparative study included 104 glaucomatous patients and 59 healthy subjects. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured by spectral domain (SD) and time domain (TD) OCTs. Four glaucoma VF severity indices, including mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), Collaborative Initial Glaucoma Treatment Study (CIGTS) VF score, and Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study (AGIS) VF score, were calculated using standard automated perimetry. The Pearson's correlation coefficients (r) between the average and quadrants of peripapillary RNFL thicknesses and the four VF severity indices were calculated.
RESULTS
In glaucomatous eyes, the r value between the average RNFL thickness measured by SD OCT and each VF severity index were 0.562, -0.514, -0.577, and -0.567 for the MD, PSD, CIGTS VF score, and AGIS VF score, respectively (all p < 0.001). Among each quadrant, the inferior RNFL thickness showed the largest r value; 0.587, -0.552, -0.613, and -0.598 for the MD, PSD, CIGTS VF score, and AGIS VF score, respectively (all p < 0.001). Measurements by TD OCT showed similar strengths of association with SD OCT.
CONCLUSIONS
Moderate correlation was identified between peripapillary RNFL thicknesses measured by SD/TD OCT and glaucoma VF severity indices. Among each quadrant, the inferior RNFL thickness showed the greatest association with glaucoma VF severity indices. There was no significant difference according to the type of VF severity index or the type of OCTs.

Keyword

Glaucoma; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness; Visual fields

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nerve Fibers/*pathology
Optic Nerve/*pathology
Optic Nerve Diseases/*diagnostic imaging/physiopathology
Retinal Ganglion Cells/*pathology
Severity of Illness Index
Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods
Visual Field Tests/methods
Visual Fields/*physiology
Young Adult

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