[Changes of the retinal thickness in the macula region in primary open-angle glaucoma patients measured with RTA analyzer]

Abstract

Purpose: Aim of the study is to determinate retinal thickness in macula region in primary open-angle glaucoma patients and in patients suspected of primary open-angle glaucoma--by using retinal thickness analyzer RTA, as well as evaluation of the applicability of the method in the early diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma.

Material and methods: Fifty primary open-angle glaucoma patient (95 eyes, average age 43.7 +/- 9.0 years), and 67 patients suspected of primary open-angle glaucoma (128 eyes, average age 43.2 +/- 11.0 years), underwent full ophthalmologic examination and also retinal thickness analysis with RTA analyzer. In particular, foveola average thickness VAV, foveal average thickness FAV, peri-foveal average thickness PFAV and posterior pole average thickness PPAV, were determined. The data were statistically evaluated and compared with those obtained for healthy subjects from the control group.

Results: The retinal thickness values in the populations of primary open-angle glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma-suspected patients were: VAV 139.0 +/- 20.5 microm i 147.6 +/- 21.2 microm, FAV 149.9 +/- 17.4 microm i 157.1 +/- 18.6 microm, PFAV 173.0 +/- 11.4 microm i 187.3 +/- 15.6 microm oraz PPAV 168.1 +/- 11.3 microm i 182.5 +/- 14.8 microm, respectively. Statistically significant differences between both populations and the population of healthy subjects were observed.

Conclusions: The retinal thickness in macula region in primary open-angle glaucoma and in patients suspected of primary open-angle glaucoma was significantly lower than in the population of the healthy subjects. The method can be successfully applied in the early diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and be a valuable supplementary examination of the optic nerve disc and peripapillary area.