Evaluation of Central Macular Thickness and Perifoveal Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness with Optical Coherence Tomography in Cases with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Objective: Evaluation of central macular thickness (CMT) and perifoveal ganglion cell complex thickness (GCC) through spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in cases with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Material and Methods: In this study, 150 eyes of 75 patients with POAG, 144 eyes of 72 patients with OHT and 142 eyes of 71 healthy cases were included. All cases undergone a complete ophthalmologic examination, visual field examination with standard automated perimetry, and CMT and GCC thickness measurements with RTVue-100 SD-OCT device. In CMT and GCC analysis, average, inferior-half and superior-half thickness values were evaluated. Results: No statistically significant difference was detected between the groups in terms of age and gender (p>0.05). CMT was found as 227.4±21.6 ìm, 235.7±20.3 ìm, 238.5±17.8 ìm, GCC average thickness was found as 91.6±9.6 ìm, 98.1±6.5 ìm, 98.2±6.8 ìm, GCC superior-half thickness as 91.2±9.6 ìm, 97.4±6.6 ìm, 97.4±6.8 ìm and GCC inferior-half thickness as 92.1±10.3 ìm, 98.9±6.8 ìm, 99.0±7.3 ìm in POAG, OHT and control groups, respectively. In the POAG group, the GCC average, superior-half and inferior-half thickness and CMT values were significantly lower than those of the OHT and control groups. No significant difference was detected between the OHT and control groups. GCC and CMT analyses are correlated. Conclusions: In distinguishing POAG cases from OHT and healthy cases, GCC and CMT analyses are rather effective and reliable. GCC and CMT analyses may be used as adjuvant methods to visual field testing in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of patients with POAG. GCC and CMT analyses are not reliable in distinguishing OHT cases from normal cases.