Detection of Early Glaucomatous Progression With Different Parameters of the RTVue Optical Coherence Tomograph

Abstract

To investigate the ability of different parameters of the RTVue-100 Fourier-domain optical coherence tomograph (RTVue-OCT) to detect early glaucomatous progression. One eye of 17 healthy and 51 perimetric glaucoma patients was imaged prospectively at 6-month intervals for 1.5 to 3 years. Progression was determined by Octopus normal G2 visual field progression criteria. Ten of the 51 glaucoma eyes progressed based on visual field criteria. Median visual field mean defect change was -0.300 dB/y for the controls, -0.120 dB/y for all glaucoma eyes (P=0.461 vs. controls), and 1.231 dB/y for the 10 functionally progressing glaucoma eyes (P<0.001 vs. controls). Ganglion cell complex (GCC), focal loss volume, and GCC global loss volume showed significantly faster rate of progression in the glaucoma group than in controls (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). No optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and average GCC parameter separated the rate of progression between the groups. Early structural progression of glaucoma may be better detected with pattern-based GCC parameters of the RTVue-OCT than with the optic nerve head, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness or average GCC parameters of the same instrument.