Lamina Cribrosa Anatomical Parameters Effects on Optic Disc Clinical Parameters and Visual Field in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Cases and Controls

Abstract

Background: Lamina cribrosa (LC) anatomical characteristics have strong association with visual field (VF) disorders in Primary Open-angle Glaucoma (POAG). To relate these results with clinical examination findings hence it reflects significant information to clinicians is the core emphasis of study. Objective: To relate anterior lamina cribrosa depth (ALCD), lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD) with clinical findings in POAG cases and age-matched healthy controls. Study Design: Study design was case-control. Settings: Al-Ain Eye Institute, Karachi Pakistan. Duration: November 2018 to February 2019. Methods: Eye specialist selected 57 POAG cases with visual field (VF) disorders and 46 age-matched healthy controls without VF disorders as study samples, after sanction from Ethical Review Committee (ERC) of Bahria University Health Sciences (BUHSC). Slit-lamp bio-microscopy, tonometry, Humphrey Field Analyzer and spectral domain ocular coherence tomography with enhanced depth imaging (EDI-OCT) were used. Independent sample T-test, Fischer exact and Mann Whitney-U tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Significant results obtained between cases with VF disorders and controls without VF disorders for LCT (218.07 ± 79.80 µm Vs 271.77 ± 64.45 µm), RNFLT (73.21 ± 13.63µm Vs 78.85 ± 13.63 µm), parapapillary atrophy (PPA) (3.63 ± 0.77 Vs 3.15 ± 0.76). Highly significant findings observed for intraocular pressure (IOP) (20.05 ± 2.47 Vs 15.59 ± 3.46) and vertical cup-to-disc ration (VCDR) (0.86 ± 0.24 Vs 0.54 ± 0.19). Conclusion: There is high association between optic nerve clinical parameters, RNFLT and LCT.