COMPARISON OF RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER THICKNESS IN PATIENTS OF PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA AND HEALTHY ADULTS

Comparison of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients and healthy age matched adults.

Study Design: Case control study.

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Ophthalmology, Rawalpindi from 12th December 2011 to 17^th October 2012.

Material and Methods: Sixty subjects were included in the study, 30 cases and 30 controls, by non-probability consecutive sampling. In group A, patients of POAG were included and in group B, healthy adults having normal intraocular pressure were included. Mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) measurements and mean of three intraocular pressure (IOP) readings of 30 patients of POAG were taken. RNFL thickness was obtained by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. IOP readings were taken with calibrated Goldman applanation tonometer.

Results: Mean RNFL thickness of 66.19 ± 14.83 microns in group A eyes was significantly lower than mean RNFL thickness of 96.46 ± 14.76 microns in normal adults (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The overall thinner mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in POAG patients as compared with normal age matched individuals highlights the importance of early diagnosis and prompt intervention in such patients to reduce the morbidity related to potentially blinding but treatable disease like glaucoma.