Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Recently Diagnosed Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of retinal nerve fiber layer thinning in recently diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This Cross-sectional study was carried out at the Ophthalmology Department, Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from 1^st May 2021 to 31^st March 2022. Patients with a history of POAG were included in the study and subjected to assessment of visual acuity, IOP (with GAT) and Global retinal nerve fiber thickness (G-RNFL) through OCT. RNFL thickness was further stratified by age and gender to explore effect modification, employing ANOVA for age group comparisons, and t-tests for RNFL thinning, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: A total of 136 patients with a history of POAG were recruited.  The mean age of the study sample was 54.5 + 13.6 years. There were 66.9% males and 33.1% females. The mean duration of POAG was 239.2 + 106.1 days. The mean BCVA was 0.696 + 0.7 and IOP was 18.9 + 9.1 mmHg. The Retinal nerve fiber thickness (RNFL) was 65.4 + 22.2 microns and 50.7% had their right eye with worse involvement.

Conclusion: Global retinal nerve fiber thickness is a significant prognostic factor for POAG.