Relationship between progression of visual field damage and choroidal thickness in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
To measure choroidal thickness in normal eyes and in patients with normal-tension glaucoma using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography and evaluate the association between choroidal thickness and progression of visual field damage.


METHODS
Cross-sectional comparative study.


METHODS
A total of 62 eyes of 62 normal subjects and 45 eyes of 45 normal-tension glaucoma patients were examined.


METHODS
The choroid was measured at the fovea and 3 mm nasal and temporal from the fovea. In the separate study, both eyes of the patients with normal-tension glaucoma were included in the analyses. Visual fields were measured with automated perimetry. Changes in mean deviation per year (dB/year), that is, mean deviation slope, were calculated.


METHODS
Difference in the choroidal thickness between the normal subjects and the patients with normal-tension glaucoma. The relationship between mean deviation slope and the choroidal thickness in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma was analysed.


RESULTS
Compared with normal subjects, the choroidal thickness was significantly thinner in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma at 3 mm nasal from the fovea (P = 0.02). There was a significant correlation between the choroidal thickness at 3 mm nasal from the fovea and the mean deviation slope (Pearson's r = 0.413; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The decrease in the thickness of the choroid at 3 mm nasal from the fovea in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma may be associated with progressive visual field loss. Thus, choroidal abnormalities may play a role in the pathogenesis of normal-tension glaucoma.
Department of Ophthalmology, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki, Kagawa, Japan. kazuyk@med.kagawa-u.ac.jp
Kazuyuki
K
Hirooka
Atsushi
A
Fujiwara
Chieko
C
Shiragami
Tetsuya
T
Baba
Fumio
F
Shiraga
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields