AIM: To investigate the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFL)in normal subjects and primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)patients by optical coherence tomography(OCT), and to provide a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of POAG.

METHODS: Totally 100 patients(123 eyes)with POAG treated in our hospital from November 2014 to November 2017 were selected as the observation group, and 50 cases(100 eyes)matched with age and sex were selected as the control group. Patients with POAG were divided into the early group(36 cases, 44 eyes), the advanced group(40 cases, 50 eyes)and the late group(24 cases, 29 eyes)according to the mean defect(MD). The average RNFL and the MD of the whole visual field, temporal visual field, nasal visual field, inferior visual field, and upper visual field were measured by OCT and automatic perimetry respectively, then their corrections were analyzed.

RESULTS: The average RNFL of the whole visual field, temporal visual field, nasal visual field, inferior visual field, and superior visual field of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001). The MD of the whole visual field, temporal visual field, nasal visual field, inferior visual field, and superior visual field of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group, with a statistically significant difference(P<0.001). The mean RNFL of the early group, the advanced group and the late group were thinned successively, paired comparison showed a statistically significant difference(P<0.001). The MD of the early group, the advanced group and the late group increased successively, paired comparison showed a statistically significant difference(P<0.001). The average RNFL of the whole visual field, temporal visual field, nasal visual field, inferior visual field, and superior visual field were negatively correlated with those fields of the MD(r=-0.675, -0.667,-0.560, -0.711, -0.660; all P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: OCT examination shows that the RNFL of POAG patients is thinner than that of the normal people, and the RNFL becomes thinner with the progression of the disease. And it has a close relationship with MD.