Correlation of Functional and Structural Changes in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Using Visual Field Testing and Optical Coherence Tomography: A Cross-Sectional Study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/b6qe1f53Keywords:
Glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography, retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, visual field, slit-lamp biomicroscopyAbstract
Background:
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is characterized by progressive optic nerve damage, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) loss, and visual field impairment.
Objective:
To assess the correlation between structural and functional alterations in POAG using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and automated visual field testing.
Methods:
This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 204 subjects with POAG who attended the Department of Ophthalmology, Rajarshi Dashrath Autonomous State Medical College, Ayodhya. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp optic nerve head evaluation with 90D lens, gonioscopy, SD-OCT-based RNFL assessment, and automated perimetry were performed.
Results: The study included 204 subjects contributing 360 eyes. Most subjects were aged 51-60 years (71; 34.8%), and 124 (60.8%) were male. IOP was 10-21 mmHg in 139 (68.1%) subjects and 22-30 mmHg in 65 (31.9%). Mean RNFL thickness was higher in the 10-21 mmHg group than in the 22-30 mmHg group (100.4 ± 10.5 µm vs. 60.3 ± 10.7 µm; p < 0.0001). Clinical cup-disc ratio correlated significantly with SD-OCT cup-disc ratio (p = 0.0006) and visual field defect (p = 0.0006). OCT sectoral rim defects showed significant correlation with corresponding visual field defects (χ² = 13.30; p = 0.004).
Conclusion:
Higher IOP was associated with lower RNFL thickness, and structural OCT findings correlated significantly with visual field loss in POAG.
Recommendation:
Combined SD-OCT and automated perimetry should be used for routine assessment and follow-up of POAG, especially when early structural-functional correlation is clinically required.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Vipin Singh, Dr. Rajwinder Kaur, Dr. Alok Kumar (Author)
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