Detection of early glaucomatous progression with different parameters of the RTVue optical coherence tomograph

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the ability of different parameters of the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph (RTVue-OCT) to detect early glaucomatous progression.

Methods: One eye of 17 healthy and 51 perimetric glaucoma patients was imaged prospectively at 6-month intervals for 1.5 to 3 years. Progression was determined by Octopus normal G2 visual field progression criteria.

Results: Ten of the 51 glaucoma eyes progressed based on visual field criteria. Median visual field mean defect change was -0.300 dB/y for the controls, -0.120 dB/y for all glaucoma eyes (P=0.461 vs. controls), and 1.231 dB/y for the 10 functionally progressing glaucoma eyes (P<0.001 vs. controls). Ganglion cell complex (GCC), focal loss volume, and GCC global loss volume showed significantly faster rate of progression in the glaucoma group than in controls (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). No optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and average GCC parameter separated the rate of progression between the groups.

Conclusions: Early structural progression of glaucoma may be better detected with pattern-based GCC parameters of the RTVue-OCT than with the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness or average GCC parameters of the same instrument.