AIM: To analyze the application value of optical coherence tomography(OCT)combined with isolated-check visual evoked potential(Ic-VEP)in the diagnosis and treatment of primary open angle glaucoma(POAG).

METHODS: Prospective cohort study. Totally 32 eyes of 32 suspected glaucoma cases, 30 eyes of 30 early POAG cases, 25 eyes of 25 moderate and late POAG cases were selected from the patients treated in our hospital from October 2014 to May 2018 were enrolled, and 30 eyes of 30 normal subjects were selected as control group. All subjects received OCT, Ic-VEP, visual field test, measurement results were analyzed.

RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of Ic-VEP in diagnose of early POAG was 83% and 93% respectively. The difference between the early POAG group and the suspected glaucoma group was no statistically significant in the signal-to-noise ratio of 8% SNR(P>0.05), but were statistically significant in other groups(P<0.05). The differences of 16%SNR and 32%SNR between the control group and the moderate and late POAG group, the suspected glaucoma group and the moderate and late POAG group, the early POAG group and the moderate and late POAG group were statistically significant(P<0.01), but were no statistically significant in other groups(P>0.05). The retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness parameters in four groups became thinner with the aggravation of the disease, and the differences between the four groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The mean defect of the four groups decreased gradually, there were no significant differences between the suspected glaucoma group and the control group(P=0.08), the differences between the other groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of 8%SNR, mean RNFL and MD in the suspected glaucoma group were 0.824, 0.846 and 0.661 respectively, the early POAG group of those were 0.898, 0.969, 0.889, respectively.

CONCLUSION: OCT and Ic-VEP have high diagnostic ability for the early changes of POAG and can evaluate the degree of optic nerve injury, which can be combined used for early diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of POAG.