Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.49(10) > 1008105

Wan Kim and Kim: Changes in RNFL Thickness According to the Myopia in Patients with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the changes in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness according to the degree of myopia in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Methods

Ninety-eight patients (165 eyes) diagnosed with glaucoma or ocular hypertension underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser polarimetry using variable corneal compensation (GDx-VCC) to analyze the correlation between the degree of myopia and the thickness of the RNFL. A partial correlation coefficient analysis was performed to adjust for various factors such as age, laterality, intraocular pressure, and the mean deviation from visual field test, which can influence the RNFL thickness.

Results

The average, nasal, superior, and inferior sectorial RNFL thicknesses measured by OCT significantly decreased with increasing myopia ( p<0.05). However, RNFL thickness measured by GDx-VCC was not significantly correlated with the degree of myopia.

Conclusions

The RNFL thickness measured by OCT decreased with increasing myopia in eyes with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

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Figure 1.
Scattergram of the average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness obtained by optical coherence tomography (y) and the degree of myopia (x). As myopia increased, there was a significant decrease in the average RNFL Thickness obtained by the Stratus OCT ( p=0.000, r=0.323).
jkos-49-1634f1.tif
Table 1.
Bivariate correlations associated with refraction
Average (µm) r* P value
Refraction (diopters) -2.38±2.65 1
Age (Years) 44.92±13.43 0.430 0.000
IOP (mmHg) 17.76±4.72 -0.089 0.256
MD (dB) -2.44±2.68 0.050 0.527
Stratus OCT Avg. Thick 94.98±16.65 0.323 0.000
Superior 114.85±22.62 0.245 0.001
Inferior 114.56±26.75 0.284 0.000
Temporal 74.32±16.54 0.124 0.114
Nasal 76.22±17.33 0.366 0.000
GDx-VCC NFI 31±18.12 -0.091 0.243
TSNIT Avg 49.29±7.36 -0.037 0.635
Superior 60.55±10.73 -0.006 0.941
Inferior 58.18±10.69 -0.073 0.352
TSNIT std. dev. 20.86±5.04 -0.023 0.769

* Pearson correlation coefficient

Pearson test

IOP=Intraocular Pressure; MD=Mean Deviation; Stratus OCT=Stratus optical coherence tomography; GDx-VCC=Scanning Laser Polarimetry with Variable corneal compensation; Avg. Thick=Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by optical coherence tomography; NFI=Nerve Fiber Index obtained by scanning laser polarimetry; TSNIT Avg=Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by scanning laser polarimetry; TSNIT std. dev.=Standard Deviation of the Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by scanning laser polarimetry.

Table 2.
Correlations after adjusting age, sex, laterality, baseline IOP and mean deviatio
Average (µm) r* P value
Stratus OCT Avg. Thick 94.98±16.65 0.287 0.000
Superior 114.85±22.62 0.265 0.001
Inferior 114.56±26.75 0.209 0.008
Temporal 74.32±16.54 0.073 0.363
Nasal 76.22±17.33 0.317 0.000
GDx-VCC NFI 31±18.12 -0.114 0.156
TSNIT Avg 49.29±7.36 -0.097 0.226
Superior 60.55±10.73 0.014 0.861
Inferior 58.18±10.69 -0.104 0.195
TSNIT std. dev. 20.86±5.04 0.086 0.282

* Pearson correlation coefficient

Pearson test

Stratus OCT=Stratus optical coherence tomography; GDx-VCC=Scanning Laser Polarimetry with Variable corneal compensation; Avg. Thick=Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by optical coherence tomography; NFI=Nerve Fiber Index obtained by scanning laser polarimetry; TSNIT Avg=Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by scanning laser polarimetry; TSNIT std. dev.=Standard Deviation of the Average retinal nerve fiber layer thickness obtained by scanning laser polarimetry.

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