Quantitative Assessment of Macular Thickness in Glaucomatous Human Eye Using Optical Coherence Tomography

ABSTRACT
Background: Glaucoma is the cause of thinning of the layer of nerve fibers in the macula. Therefore, an objective study is considered a necessary document to continue evaluating the thickness of the macula.
Objectives: To assess macular thickness by OCT in glaucomatous eyes in comparison to normal eyes and to identify the changes in the macula in glaucoma patients
Patients and Methods: The study included 181 eyes (69 normal eyes and 121 eyes with glaucoma), and each patient underwent a thorough ophthalmological examination and an OCT examination. All eyes were scanned to measure macular thickness using a 6x6 mm ETDRS map centered on the central disc in its middle. The macula was divided into 9 regions, including the central disc (1 mm), inner ring (3 mm), and outer ring (6 mm).
Results: The mean age was 42.1 years in the normal eyes group and 58.1 years in the glaucoma group. From a comparison of macular thickness between two groups in all regions except the central disc region, it was statistically significant less than (P = 0.05) with the same result among both genders. The difference in the layer of nerve fibers between glaucoma and the normal eye was greatest in the TOM area (27.11) microns and least in the central disc (4.32) microns.
Conclusions: Persistent macular thinning, which represents a marker for alternative status in detecting structural changes in the progression of glaucoma over time. The OCT device is considered a sensitive device in diagnosing, monitoring and treating glaucoma.