Retinal nerve fiber loss in high- and normal-tension glaucoma by optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Purpose. To compare the pattern of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) damages in high-tension and normal-tension primary chronic open-angle glaucoma using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods. Age- and refractive error-matched patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) (n = 38) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) (n = 48) and normal subjects (n = 48) were recruited. All subjects underwent complete eye examinations and OCT RNFL assessments. Results. No statistically significant difference was found between eyes with HTG and NTG for any OCT RNFL thickness parameters (p < 0.05). Inferotemporal thickness values were significantly lower than the superotemporal thickness values in both glaucoma groups (p < 0.001), but no difference was observed in the normal group. Compared with the results from normal subjects, several OCT parameters, including average, superior, inferior, inferotemporal, and superotemporal values, were significantly lower in patients with HTG and NTG (p < 0.01). Conclusions. A mixture of diffuse RNFL damage (superotemporal and inferotemporal regions) and local damage in inferotemporal region was observed in patients with HTG and NTG, suggesting that HTG and NTG may undergo same pathological process.