Morphofunctional Studies in the Early Diagnosis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: to study the relationship between the optic nerve structural changes and the electrophysiological parameters of visual analyzer in the early diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Patients and methods. 68 people took part in the study. 48 patients (56 eyes) were diagnosed with ophthalmic hypertension, suspected glaucoma (age ranged from 35 to 67 years, the average age was 51 years) and 20 healthy subjects (40 eyes) who entered the control group (age 32 up to 63 years, the average age is 47 years). All patients underwent standard ophthalmologic examination, multifocal electroretinography (mEPHRG), confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (KSLO), electrophosphhenes and CFCs. For all types of analysis of mEPHR indices (by rings, quadrants and 3D), normal topography and density of the biopotential of the central region of the retina were recorded in patients with suspected glaucoma. The indices of the electrosensitivity of the inner layers of the retina, the conductivity of the axial fasciculus of the optic nerve, and CFSC also corresponded to normal values. Analysis of CCEA results showed a significant decrease of NRF volume of and the thickness of the retinal layer of nerve fibers compared to the control group, while in the group of patients with suspected glaucoma in 71 % of cases, the decrease of indicators correlated with the abnormalities in the static perimetry that was carried out earlier. Conducted morphometric studies confirm the fact that the decrease in the volume of IUU and SNV begins at the early, preclinical stage of glaucoma, and this in patients with ophthalmic hypertension can provide valuable information on the early diagnosis of POAG.

Keywords

• primary open-angle glaucoma
• diagnostics
• retinal morphometry
• cfsc
• confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy