Macular thickness changes in glaucomatous optic neuropathy detected using optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Objective: To correlate macular thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in normal and glaucomatous eyes using optical coherence tomography. Methods: Complete examination, automated achromatic perimetry, and optical coherence tomography of the peripapillary RNFL and macula were performed. Exclusion criteria were visual acuity of less than 20/40, diseases other than glaucoma, and unreliable automated achromatic perimetry. Macular thickness measurements were generated using 6 radial optical coherence tomographic scans (5.9 mm) centered on the fovea, and mean and quadrantic macular thickness values were calculated. Results: Fifty-nine eyes of 59 patients (29 normal and 30 glaucomatous) were enrolled (mean ± SD age, 56.7 ± 20.3 years; range, 20-91 years). All eyes with glaucoma had associated visual field loss (mean ± SD mean defect, -8.4 ± 5.8 dB). Mean macular thickness was significantly associated with visual field mean defect (R2 = 0.47; P