AIM:To compare the loss of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness measurements by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT)in healthy individuals and glaucoma patients with or without progression.

METHODS:A total of 60 eyes, comprising 36 glaucomatous eyes with primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)and 24 healthy controls, were included in the study over a 2-year period. All eyes underwent at least 4 serial RNFL measurements performed by Cirrus OCT every half a year over a period of 2a. Visual field(VF)testing was performed by using the Swedish interactive threshold algorithm(SITA)Standard 30-2 program of the Humphrey field analyzer within the same week as the optic disc/RNFL photography. By masked comparative analysis of VF test results and optic disc/RNFL photographs, the eyes were classified into non-progressive and progressive glaucoma cases. Longitudinal loss of RNFL thickness was compared.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 2.1±0.3a. Seventeen from 36 subjects were identified as progressors. Mean rates of change in average RNFL thickness were significantly higher for progressors compared with nonprogressors(2.46μm/a vs.1.21μm/a; P<0.001). Inferior quadrant RNFL thickness were significantly correlated with MD reduction in glaucoma eyes with progression(r=0.423, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION:Longitudinal measurements of RNFL thickness using SD-OCT show a pronounced reduction in patients with progression compared with patients without progression. Inferior RNFL thickness parameters might be more important in discriminating eyes with progressive glaucomatous optic nerve damage.