AIM:To investigate the important role oxidative stress response plays in the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma through comparative studies of oxidative stress and GDx-VCC checking between the normal and primary open angle glaucoma patients of different stages.METHODS: Totally 30 cases (60 eyes) with normal subjects, 40 patients (50 eyes) with early glaucoma and 40 patients (60 eyes) with advanced open angle glaucoma were detected with serum MDA, CAT, Vc, SOD, GSH-PX, GST detection and RNFL detection by application of GDx-VCC, the difference of RNFL parameters were compared. Finally, the relevance of indicators of oxidative stress and GDx-VCC in primary open angle glaucoma patients at different times were compared.RESULTS: Compared with the normal population, serum GST and MDA of early primary open angle glaucoma patients increased ,that of advanced patients increased more significantly, while the CAT, GSH-PX, SOD, Vc decreased at early stage, and were significantly lower late; RNFL of early primary open angle glaucoma patients became thinner, RNFL in advanced patients became significantly thinner than earlier. The parameters from both methods were statistically significant differences (P<0.01), with good separating capacity between normal and early primary open angle glaucoma, and with consistency for the staging of glaucoma.CONCLUSION:Oxidative stress may be clinically used as auxiliary means of detection for primary open angle glaucoma.