Effect of medication compliance of primary open angle glaucoma （POAG） patients by retinal nerve fiber layer thickness acquired by stratus

Abstract

Objective To investigate the affect of medication compliance on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness acquired by stratus OCT in primary open angle glaueoma （POAG） patients. Methods 100 eyes of 53 POAG outpatients from 2007 to 2010 were recruited in outpatient service. All the patients were sorted into 2 groups according to their medication compliance： high medication compliance （group A） and low medication compliance （group B）. Both global and retinal nerve fiber layer （RNFL） thickness in the four quadrants （superior, inferior, nasal and temporal） were detected by OCT in both groups during 1 year follow-up and the changes were statistically analyzed. Results The changing value of RNFL thickness in global average and in the four quadrants （ superior, inferior, nasal and temporal） is （ 3.13 ± 6.64） μm, （ - 4.7 ± 12.95 ）μm, （ -2.54±9.75）μm, （ -3.28 ±14.86） μm, （ - 1.84 ± 11.94） μm in group A, and （7.74 ± 8.14） μm, （15.82±22.10）μm, （4.94±13.96）μm, （8.42±13.64）μm, （ 4. 38 ±19. 63 ）μm in group B. The data presented striking difference between group A and group B in average, in the superior and in the nasal （ t = 7.32, 5. 663, 4. 10 ; P 〈 0. 001 ）, as while as in the inferior （ t = 3. 105, P 〈 0. 05 ）, while not showed statistical difference in the temporal （ t = 1. 914, P 〉0. 05 ）. Conclusions OCT was a test method with objective, specific, sensitive and quantitative characteristics. OCT can be used to evaluate the medication compliance of POAG patient which facilitate monitoring RNFL lesion. Key words: Primary open angle glaucoma; Retina; Retinal nerve fiber layer; Medication compliance; Optical coherence tomography