AIM: To observe the characteristics of microperimetry in patients with glaucoma, and investigate the correlation between microperimetry and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), standard automatic perimetry and optical coherence tomography(OCT)index.

METHODS: This case-control study included 45 patients(76 eyes)with glaucoma(glaucoma group), among which 15 patients(25 eyes)with primary open-angle glaucoma and 30 patients(51 eyes)with chronic angle-closure glaucoma, and 40 healthy individuals(76 eyes)were included in the control group. MAIA microperimetry, Humphrey perimetry, and BCVA tests were performed in all examined eyes. Correlation analysis was performed using the structural indices measured by OCT.

RESULTS: The mean sensitivity(MS)in macular area measured by microperimetry and the ganglion cell complex(GCC)and retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness measured by OCT were decreased in glaucoma patients when compared to the control group. Additionally, the mean defect(MD)measured by Humphrey perimetry(10-2 visual field test), focal loss volume(FLV), global loss volume(GLV)measured by OCT, and 63% bivariate contour ellipse area(BCEA )measured by MAIA microperimetry were higher than those of the control group. The MS was negatively correlated with MD, FLV, GLV and BCVA(LogMAR)in the glaucoma group(r_s=-0.839, -0.665, -0.530, and -0.424, all P<0.01). In contrast, MS was positively correlated with GCC and RNFL in the glaucoma group(r_s=0.437, 0.500, all P<0.01). MAIA microperimetry had a shorter detection time. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that MAIA microperimetry had moderate accuracy for the diagnosis of glaucoma.

CONCLUSIONS: MAIA microperimetry has high sensitivity and can detect retinal sensitivity reduction in areas of structural damage tested by OCT. The microperimetry values were correlated with BCVA, standard automatic perimetry parameters, and OCT parameters. MAIA microperimetry combined with OCT will increase the early diagnosis rate of glaucoma.