Evaluation of Prelaminar Region and Lamina Cribrosa with Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography in Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma.

Abstract

Objectives:To analyze optic nerve head images of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) patients and healthy volunteers obtained with enhanced depth imaging spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Materials and Methods:Seventy patients with PXG and 68 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were included in this prospective study. The prelaminar tissue and lamina cribrosa were imaged using spectralis OCT with the enhanced depth imaging technique. PXG disease stage was determined with visual field to evaluate relationships between prelaminar tissue thickness (PTT), lamina cribrosa thickness (LT) and disease severity.Results:There was no significant difference between the PXG group and control group with regard to age, gender, central corneal thickness, or axial length. The mean PTT (93.1±44.5 μm, p<0.05) and LT (206.3±33.6 μm p<0.05) values of the PXG group were significantly lower compared to the control group in enhanced depth imaging OCT measurements. The PXG patients were divided into stages according to visual field defect severity. While a significant difference was not detected in PTT based on disease stage (p>0.05), a statistically significant difference was detected between stages for LT (p<0.05).Conclusion:A thinner PTT was correlated with the presence of PXG but not with the severity of glaucoma. In addition, LT has a stronger relationship with disease severity and progression compared to PTT.