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

• Published in: Korean journal of ophthalmology Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 263 - 269
• Main Authors: Kang, Eun Min, Hong, Samin, Kim, Chan Yun, Seong, Gong Je
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Ophthalmological Society 01.08.2015; 대한안과학회
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers - pathology; Optic Nerve - pathology; Optic Nerve Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Optic Nerve Diseases - physiopathology; Original; Retinal Ganglion Cells - pathology; Severity of Illness Index; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Visual Field Tests - methods; Visual Fields - physiology; Young Adult; 안과학; Glaucoma; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness; Visual fields
• ISSN: 1011-8942; 2092-9382
• DOI: 10.3341/kjo.2015.29.4.263

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. 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. 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. 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.