Correlation of Papillomacular Nerve Fiber Bundle Thickness with Central Visual Function in Open-Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose. To determine the correlation of reduced retinal thickness in the central papillomacular bundle (CPB) to central visual function, including central retinal sensitivity and visual acuity, in glaucoma patients. Methods. This study enrolled 50 eyes of 50 patients with open-angle glaucoma who were carefully screened for comorbid conditions that can cause decreased central visual function, such as cataracts or macular diseases. We used a novel CPB analysis comprising a program for optical coherence tomography that measured RNFL thickness and GCC thickness in the CPB and divided lengthwise into three parts (upper, middle, and lower CPB). The relationship of these parameters, including conventional macular thickness, to visual field sensitivity in four central standard automated perimetry points (the central four thresholds) and BCVA was analyzed. Results. The two parameters most highly correlated with central four thresholds were macular GCCT and macular RNFLT. The two parameters most highly correlated with BCVA were middle CPB (mid-CPB) GCCT and mid-CPB RNFLT. A multiple regression analysis revealed that mid-CPB GCCT was an independent factor impacting central retinal thresholds and BCVA. Conclusions. Our results suggest that mid-CPB RNFLT and GCCT, parameters of a novel papillomacular bundle analysis, are candidate biomarkers of decreased central visual function in glaucomatous eyes.

Analysis of retinal layer thickness in diabetic macular oedema treated with ranibizumab or triamcinolone

“…Similar topical correlations were found in eyes affected by non‐arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy or glaucoma (Kobayashi et al. ; Rebolleda et al. ).…”

Ocular Blood Flow and Influencing Factors for Glaucoma

“…76 We found that ganglion cell complex thickness in the papillomacular bundle was significantly associated with central visual function, as measured by best-corrected visual acuity and the central 4 measurement points of the Humphrey field analyzer. 77 We also found that blood flow on the temporal side of the ONH was highly associated with ganglion cell complex thickness. 7 These findings suggest that temporal blood flow changes may cause macular function to become more susceptible to damage in patients with glaucoma.…”

Evaluation of the Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer and the Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Early to Severe Stages of Glaucoma: Correlation with Central Visual Function and Visual Field Indexes

“…Only 19 eyes in our study, however, were diagnosed with severe glaucoma. Other authors like Kobayashi et al [27] demonstrated that RNFL and GCC thickness in the central papillomacular bundle were both strongly correlated with logMAR BCVA ( r value ∼ 0.7, p < 0.01), obtaining a better correlation than BCVA with RNFL and GCC thickness in the macular area.…”

“…This suggests that the inferior macula (superior VF) is more susceptible to glaucoma damage than the superior macular region [28] , and regional structural assessment of macular inner retinal layers is a better indicator of central vision than cpRNFL [13,29] . Kobayashi et al [27] also demonstrated that GCC thickness was significantly correlated with VF mean deviation ( r = 0.62, p < 0.01) and with the central 4 thresholds ( r = 0.75, p < 0.01) in patients with open-angle glaucoma, but they used a Humphrey 30-2 (instead of 24-2) pattern to evaluate the macular GCC with a different OCT device (instead of GCIPL thickness). Kim et al [13] revealed, for advanced glaucoma ( n = 86), a stronger relationship between macular VF sensitivity (assessed by calculating the average of sensitivities at 12 central VF points, using a Humphrey 30-2 perimeter) and GCIPL thickness than cpRNFL thickness (particularly temporal cpRNFL thick- ness), and the strongest association between average GCIPL thickness and macular VF sensitivity.…”