Measurement of local retinal ganglion cell layer thickness in patients with glaucoma using frequency-domain optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of obtaining a local measurement of the thickness of the retinal ganglion cell layer in patients with glaucoma using frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (fdOCT) and a computer-aided manual segmentation procedure.


METHODS
The fdOCT scans were obtained from the horizontal midline for 1 eye of 26 patients with glaucoma and 20 control subjects. The thickness of various layers was measured with a manual segmentation procedure aided by a computer program. The patients were divided into low- and high-sensitivity groups based on their foveal sensitivity on standard automated perimetry.


RESULTS
The RGC plus inner plexiform and the retinal nerve fiber layers of the low-sensitivity group were significantly thinner than those of the high-sensitivity group. While these layers were thinner in the patients than the controls, the thicknesses of inner nuclear layer and receptor layer were similar in all 3 groups. Further, the thinning of the retinal ganglion cell plus inner plexiform layer in 1 glaucoma-affected eye showed qualitative correspondence to the loss in 10-2 visual field sensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Local measures of RGC layer thickness can be obtained from fdOCT scans using a manual segmentation procedure, and these measures show qualitative agreement with visual field sensitivity.
Wang
Min
M
Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Hood
Donald C
DC
Cho
Jung-Suk
JS
Ghadiali
Quraish
Q
De Moraes
Carlos Gustavo
CG
De Moraes
Gustavo V
GV
Zhang
Xian
X
Ritch
Robert
R
Liebmann
Jeffrey M
JM
D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields