Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Layer Thickness in Patients with or without Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Article Information
Publication Timeline
- Received06 July 2025
- Accepted06 August 2025
- Published
Abstract
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell death and optic nerve head changes, leading to irreversible vision loss if left untreated. This study aimed to evaluate and compare peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular layer thickness measurements using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with POAG versus healthy controls. A total of 120 participants were enrolled, including 60 patients with confirmed POAG and 60 age-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination including visual field testing, intraocular pressure measurement, and SD-OCT imaging using Heidelberg Spectralis OCT. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured in four quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal), while macular thickness measurements included ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and total macular thickness. Results demonstrated significantly reduced peripapillary RNFL thickness in all quadrants in the POAG group compared to controls (p<0.001). Mean peripapillary RNFL thickness was 78.4±12.6 μm in POAG patients versus 96.7±8.9 μm in controls. Macular GCL-IPL thickness was significantly thinner in POAG patients (67.8±9.4 μm) compared to controls (82.3±6.7 μm, p<0.001). The inferior and superior quadrants showed the most pronounced RNFL thinning, consistent with the typical glaucomatous pattern of damage. Strong correlations were observed between RNFL thickness measurements and visual field parameters, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.72 to 0.84. SD-OCT demonstrated excellent diagnostic capability with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.92 for average RNFL thickness and 0.89 for macular GCL-IPL thickness. These findings confirm that SD-OCT is a valuable tool for early detection and monitoring of structural changes in glaucoma, providing objective quantitative measurements that correlate well with functional visual field defects and can aid in clinical decision-making for glaucoma management.
Keywords
Primary Open-Angle GlaucomaSpectral Domain Optical Coherence TomographyRetinal Nerve Fiber LayerMacular ThicknessGanglion Cell LayerDiagnostic ImagingOptic NeuropathyReferences
- Tham YC, Li X, Wong TY, Quigley HA, Aung T, Cheng CY. Global prevalence of glaucoma and projections of glaucoma burden through 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ophthalmology. 2014;121(11):2081-90. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Weinreb RN, Aung T, Medeiros FA. The pathophysiology and treatment of glaucoma: a review. JAMA. 2014;311(18):1901-11. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Quigley HA, Broman AT. The number of people with glaucoma worldwide in 2010 and 2020. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006;90(3):262-7. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Sommer A, Tielsch JM, Katz J, et al. Relationship between intraocular pressure and primary open angle glaucoma among white and black Americans. The Baltimore Eye Survey. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109(8):1090-5. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Harwerth RS, Carter-Dawson L, Shen F, Smith EL, Crawford ML. Ganglion cell losses underlying visual field defects from experimental glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999;40(10):2242-50. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Schuman JS, Pedut-Kloizman T, Hertzmark E, et al. Reproducibility of nerve fiber layer thickness measurements using optical coherence tomography. Ophthalmology. 1996;103(11):1889-98. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Leung CK, Cheung CY, Weinreb RN, et al. Retinal nerve fiber layer imaging with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography: a variability and diagnostic performance study. Ophthalmology. 2009;116(7):1257-63. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Hood DC, Raza AS, de Moraes CG, Liebmann JM, Ritch R. Glaucomatous damage of the macula. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2013;32:1-21. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Budenz DL, Michael A, Chang RT, McSoley J, Katz J. Sensitivity and specificity of the StratusOCT for perimetric glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(1):3-9. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Bowd C, Zangwill LM, Berry CC, et al. Detecting early glaucoma by assessment of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and visual function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2001;42(9):1993-2003. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Medeiros FA, Zangwill LM, Bowd C, Vessani RM, Susanna R Jr, Weinreb RN. Evaluation of retinal nerve \fiber layer, optic nerve head, and macular thickness measurements for glaucoma detection using optical coherence tomography. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139(1):44-55. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Mwanza JC, Durbin MK, Budenz DL, et al. Glaucoma diagnostic accuracy of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness: comparison with nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head. Ophthalmology. 2012;119(6):1151-8. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Tan O, Chopra V, Lu AT, et al. Detection of macular ganglion cell loss in glaucoma by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography. Ophthalmology. 2009;116(12):2305-14. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Garway-Heath DF, Holder GE, Fitzke FW, Hitchings RA. Relationship between electrophysiological, psychophysical, and anatomical measurements in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002;43(7):2213-20. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Schlottmann PG, De Cilla S, Greenfield DS, Caprioli J, Garway-Heath DF. Relationship between visual field sensitivity and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness as measured by scanning laser polarimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45(6):1823-9. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Parikh RS, Parikh SR, Sekhar GC, Prabakaran S, Babu JG, Thomas R. Normal age-related decay of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Ophthalmology. 2007;114(5):921-6. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Leung CK, Chan WM, Yung WH, et al. Comparison of macular and peripapillary measurements for the detection of glaucoma: an optical coherence tomography study. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(3):391-400. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Jonas JB, Schiro D. Localised wedge shaped defects of the retinal nerve fibre layer in glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 1994;78(4):285-90. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Curcio CA, Allen KA. Topography of ganglion cells in human retina. J Comp Neurol. 1990;300(1):5-25. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Seong M, Sung KR, Choi EH, et al. Macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer measurements by spectral domain optical coherence tomography in normal-tension glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51(3):1446-52. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Kim NR, Lee ES, Seong GJ, Kim JH, An HG, Kim CY. Structure-function relationship and diagnostic value of macular ganglion cell complex measurement using Fourier-domain OCT in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51(9):4646-51. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Strouthidis NG, Scott A, Peter NM, Garway-Heath DF. Optic disc and visual field progression in ocular hypertensive subjects: detection rates, specificity, and agreement. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47(7):2904-10. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
- Huang JY, Pekmezci M, Mesiwala N, Kao A, Lin S. Diagnostic power of optic disc m orphology, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and macular inner retinal layer thickness in glaucoma diagnosis. J Glaucoma. 2011;20(2):87-94. [Google Scholar][Crossref]
How to Cite
Singh, P., Suman, N., Chaturvedi, P., Saxena, R., Jyostna, & Bansal, S. (2025). Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Layer Thickness in Patients with or without Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 6(3), 222-227. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.222-227
Singh, Priya, et al. "Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Layer Thickness in Patients with or without Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography." International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, vol. 6, no. 3, 2025, pp. 222-227. https://doi.org/10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.222-227.
Singh, P., Suman, N., Chaturvedi, P., Saxena, R., Jyostna and Bansal, S. (2025) 'Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Layer Thickness in Patients with or without Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography', International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research, 6(3), pp. 222-227. doi: 10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.222-227.
Singh P, Suman N, Chaturvedi P, Saxena R, Jyostna, Bansal S. Evaluation of Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness and Macular Layer Thickness in Patients with or without Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma with Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. International Journal of Medical and All Body Health Research. 2025;6(3):222-227. doi:10.54660/IJMBHR.2025.6.3.222-227
Similar Articles
- Evaluation of Tear Film Dysfunction and Dry Eye Disease after Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery Vol 6, Issue 3 (2025)
- Evaluation of IOP, Refraction, Anterior Chamber Depth, Macular Thickness and Specular Microscopy Post ND YAG Laser in Patients with Posterior Capsular Opacification Vol 6, Issue 3 (2025)
- Lactobacillus Probiotics: Mechanisms, Health Benefits, and Applications in Combating Pathogenic Bacteria Vol 6, Issue 3 (2025)
- Evaluation of the effect of pterygium size on corneal astigmatism before and after excision Vol 6, Issue 3 (2025)
- A Comparative Analysis of Functional Outcome of Distal Femur Fractures Treated with Locking Compression Plate Fixation and Non-Locking Plate Fixation Vol 6, Issue 3 (2025)
Find this Article on
Google Scholar Semantic Scholar OpenAlex Scilit Crossref ResearchGate BASEA newly published article may take a few days to appear on these services.