Abstract

SO.16.04

Measurement of retinal ganglion cell complex in glaucoma patients, ocular hypertensives, and healthy subjects with fourier domain optical coherence tomography

Andreas Schulze, Julia Lamparter, Stefan Günther, Norbert Pfeiffer, Esther Hoffmann
Universitäts-Augenklinik Mainz

Objective
The fourier domain optical coherence tomograph (RTVue 100, Optovue Inc., Fremont, USA) can measure the thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) around the fovea. The GCC consists of the retinal nerve fiber layer, the ganglion cell layer, and the inner plexiform layer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate possible differences in GCC thickness among glaucoma patients, ocular hypertensives, and healthy subjects.
Methods
Fifty patients with early primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), 25 ocular hypertensive patients (OHT), and 25 normal subjects were included. Early POAG was classified according to the enhanced visual field glaucoma staging system of Brusini. Ocular hypertension was defined as an intraocular pressure higher then 21 mmHg without visual field defects. Excluding parameters were advanced cataract, spherical and cylindrical refractive error higher than 5 diopters and 2 diopters, respectively, corrected visual acuity lower then 6/20, any previous ocular surgery or laser treatment and any retinal pathology. GCC results between groups were evaluated using Mann-Whitney-U-test.
Results
Glaucoma patients had a mean GCC thickness of 86.7 ± 11.1 µm, 87.8 ± 11.4 µm in the superior hemisphere, and 86.2 ± 12.3 µm in the inferior hemisphere. OHT patients showed a mean GCC thickness of 91.5 ± 7.5 µm, 91.3 ± 8.5 µm in the superior hemisphere, and 91.7 ± 7.7 µm in the inferior hemisphere. Normal patients had a mean GCC thickness of 96.3 ± 4.9 µm, 95.4 ± 5.5 µm in the superior hemisphere, and 97.1 ± 5.1 µm in the inferior hemisphere. POAG patients had a statistically significant thinner GCC thickness compared to OHT (p=0.034) and normal patients (p<0.00). Normal subjects had a statistically thicker GCC compared to OHT (p=0.009).
Conclusions
This is the first study evaluating the ganglion cell complex in different experimental groups using high resolution OCT. We found that glaucoma patients had significant thinner GCC thickness compared to the other groups and a statistically difference between OHT and normal subjects. Further studies will show if the GCC has a diagnostic ability to detect early glaucoma.

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