Correlation between central corneal thickness and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Background Central corneal thickness (CCT) is an important risk factor in the development and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The retinal nerve fibers respond to high intraocular pressure (IOP) with irreversible loss. So, there is a great interest to study the correlation between these two factors: CCT and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) using the spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Aim The aim of this study was to correlate the CCT and the RNFLT in POAG patients by using SD-OCT. Patients and methods This study was conducted in Menoufia University Hospitals, Egypt, from October 2017 to October 2018. The study included 116 eyes of 61 patients with POAG receiving antiglaucomatous eye drops with controlled IOP. CCT and peripapillary RNFLT were measured by using SD-OCT (Optovue RTVue-100). Then, we performed a correlation between them. Results The study included 61 (40 males and 21 females) patients. The mean age was 51.5±6 years. A significant positive relationship was found between the CCT and the RNFLT (r=0.6). This means that patients with thick cornea have thicker nerve fiber layer than those with thinner corneas. Conclusion CCT is an important risk factor and predictive factor for both diagnosis and prognosis of POAG. So, it is mandatory to be measured to modify the IOP measurements and to correlate with the nerve fiber layer thickness. This helps us to tailor the plan of treatment.