Noemi Güerri

Sub‐clinical atrophy of the retinal nerve fibre layer in multiple sclerosis

Acta Ophthalmol. 2010: 88: 748–752

Predictive Value of Retrobulbar Blood Flow Velocities in Glaucoma Suspects

PURPOSE To determine whether retrobulbar blood flow (RBF) velocities are predictive of conversion to glaucoma. METHODS A total of 262 glaucoma suspects were prospectively selected. Participants had normal visual field, increased intraocular pressure, and glaucomatous optic disc appearance at baseline. Topographic analysis of the optic nerve head was performed using a confocal laser scanning ophthalmoscope and the blood flow velocity of retrobulbar vessels was measured by color Doppler imaging. Conversion to glaucoma was assessed according to the changes in the color-coded Moorfields Regression Analysis (MRA) classification of the confocal laser scanning system during a 48-month follow-up period. Survival curves and hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between RBF parameters and conversion to glaucoma were calculated. RESULTS End-diastolic velocity and mean velocity in the ophthalmic artery were reduced in subjects that converted to glaucoma based on MRA (36 individuals, 13.7%), while resistivity (RI) and pulsatility indices were increased in the same vessel. Patients with RI values lower than 0.75 in the ophthalmic artery had a survival rate (MRA-converters versus nonconverters) of 93.9%, whereas individuals with RI values greater than 0.75 had a survival rate of 81.7% (HR = 3.306; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Abnormal RBF velocities measured by color Doppler ultrasound may be a risk factor for conversion to glaucoma. An RI value higher than 0.75 in the ophthalmic artery was associated with the development of glaucoma.

Evaluation of the Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer and the Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Early to Severe Stages of Glaucoma: Correlation with Central Visual Function and Visual Field Indexes

Objectives: To compare the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) in glaucoma patients at different disease stages and to evaluate correlations between optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters with central visual function and visual field (VF) indexes. Patients and Methods: One hundred forty patients were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. Subjects diagnosed with chronic open-angle glaucoma and 20/40 or better vision were recruited and classified as having early, moderate, or severe VF defects based on Hodapp-Parrish-Anderson criteria. cpRNFL and macular GCIPL were measured using Cirrus high-definition OCT. Central retinal sensitivity and visual acuity were recorded. Results: All OCT measurements differed significantly between patients with early and severe VF defects (p < 0.001). Correlations between central vision and VF indexes with OCT measurements were moderate but significant; better-correlated OCT parameters were the inferior cpRNFL quadrant, average cpRNFL thickness, inferior and inferior temporal GCIPL sectors, and minimum GCIPL thickness (r = 0.63-0.71, p < 0.001). Visual acuity was not correlated with either circumpapillary or macular OCT measurements. Conclusions: Inner macular parameters performed as well as cpRNFL in patients with different stages of glaucoma. Inferior macular GCIPL sectors, minimum GCIPL thickness, and the inferior cpRNFL quadrant best differentiate disease severity and correlate with central visual function and VF indexes.

Performance of imaging devices versus optic disc and fiber layer photography in a clinical practice guideline for glaucoma diagnosis.

Purpose To compare the performance of Moorfields Regression Analysis (MRA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) with that of photographic evaluation of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in the application of the Finnish Evidence-Based Guideline for Open-Angle Glaucoma (FEBG-OAG). Methods Patients referred for glaucoma evaluation (n=312) and subjects selected from the general population (n=41) were included in the study. All subjects underwent ophthalmic evaluation, optic nerve head stereophotography, monochromatic RNFL photography, Heidelberg retina tomography, OCT, and laser polarimetry evaluation. The subjects were classified based on stereophotographic or MRA and OCT results by applying the FEBG-OAG. Results The specificity of the FEBG-OAG for detecting normal patients (stereophotography and imaging devices) was 78% (strict criteria) and 100% (liberal criteria). Agreement between the stereophotographic evaluation and evaluation based on MRA and OCT was 70.2%. Classification of subjects with similar management advice based on these evaluations had 70.5% agreement. Central corneal thickness was a confounding factor in glaucoma diagnosis. Large optic disc sizes played a major role in misleading the diagnosis compared to small discs. Conclusions Central corneal thickness and large optic disc size are confounding factors in glaucoma diagnosis. Moorfields Regression Analysis and OCT allow for objective implementation of the FEBG-OAG compared to conventional stereophotographic evaluation of the neuroretinal structures.

Diagnostic ability of inner macular layers to discriminate early glaucomatous eyes using vertical and horizontal B-scan posterior pole protocols

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic ability of macular ganglion cell (mGCL) and macular retinal nerve fiber (mRNFL) layers, to detect early glaucomatous eyes, using the new segmentation software of Spectralis optical coherence tomography (OCT) device (Heidelberg Engineering). Methods A total of 83 eyes from 83 subjects were included in this observational, prospective cross-sectional study: 43 healthy controls and 40 early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. All participants were examined using the Horizontal and Vertical Posterior Pole protocols, and the peripapillary RNFL (pRNFL) protocol of Spectralis OCT device. The new automated retinal segmentation software was applied to horizontal and vertical macular B-scans to determine mGCL and mRNFL thicknesses in each one of the 9 sectors of the Early Treatment Diagnostic Retinopathy Study circle. Thickness of each layer was compared between groups, and the sectors with better area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were identified. Results mGCL was significantly thinner in the POAG group, especially in outer and inner temporal sectors (p<0.001); and mRNFL was significantly thinner in the POAG group in the outer inferior and the outer superior sector (p<0.001). Diagnostic accuracy of inner macular layers was good, and in general mGCL was superior to mRNFL. pRNFL obtained the best diagnostic capability (AUC, 0.886). Horizontal and vertical Posterior Pole protocols performed similarly. Conclusions Inner macular layers using either horizontal or vertical B-scans, especially temporal sectors of mGCL, have good diagnostic capability to differentiate early glaucomatous eyes from control eyes; however, pRNFL has the highest diagnostic sensitivity for glaucoma detection.

Peripapillary Choroidal Thickness Analysis Using Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma Patients: A Broader Approach

Aims: To evaluate and compare peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT) in a wide area around the optic disk and various choroidal established zones in healthy controls and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients using a new swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) device. Methods: A total of 246 eyes were finally included in this observational, prospective, cross-sectional study: 111 healthy controls and 135 POAG patients. The healthy subjects were divided into 2 populations: the teaching population (25 used to establish choroidal zones) and the validating population (86 used for comparing choroidal thickness with POAG patients). A 26 × 26 cube grid centered on the optic disk was generated using an SS-OCT to automatically measure choroidal thickness. Four choroidal zones were established and used to compare PPCT between healthy controls and POAG patients. Results: PPCT was significantly thinner in zones 3 and 4 of the POAG group. The choroid exhibited a similar pattern in controls and patients with POAG; it was thickest in the superior region, followed in order by the temporal, nasal, and inferior regions. Conclusions: Peripapillary choroidal tissue shows a concentric pattern in both groups, and glaucoma patients present with peripapillary choroidal thinning compared with healthy subjects, especially in areas further away from the optic disk.

Contents Vol. 57, 2017

13 SIRCOVA-OFTARED Joined Congress Abstracts Valencia (Spain), June 30 – July 2, 2016 (online only) E-Mail karger@karger.com www.karger.com