Assessment of Macular Ganglion Cell/Inner Plexiform Layer Thickness with Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Patients: A Comparative Study with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Measurements

Doi: 10.36351/pjo.v42i4.2305

Abstract

Purpose:  To assess the thickness of Macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer in glaucoma patients by using swept-source OCT and compare itwith peripapillary RNFL thickness.

Study Design:  Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Place and Duration of Study:  Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshorofrom June 2021 to June 2022.

Methods:  Total 140 patients were enrolled in our study and divided in two groups. Group A included patients diagnosed with glaucoma and group B (control group), included non-glaucoma patients. Patients of either gender, above 30 years of age and intraocular pressure (IOP) of more than 21 mm Hg with open angle on gonioscopy were included in the study. All participants underwent examinations including visual acuity, refraction, IOP measurement, Gonioscopy, slit lamp examination with dilated fundus examination. Swept source OCT measurements Ganglion cell layer/inner plexiform layer (GCL/IPL) and Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)thickness were measured. The independent t test and the chi-square were used. P-values less than 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.

Results:  There were 65.7% males and a mean age of 46.8±12.08 years. Glaucoma cases showed significantly higher IOP and cup to disc ratio compared to controls (p<0.001). RNFL and GCIPL thickness was markedly reduced in glaucoma eyes versus controls (p<0.001). GCIPL demonstrated strong discriminatory ability similar to RNFL for detecting glaucomatous changes.

Conclusion:  GCIPL thickness showed diagnostic performance comparable to RNFL measurements. Incorporating GCIPL assessment may enhance early and reliable detection of glaucoma.