Utility of retinal thickness analyser in early diagnosis of glaucomatous damage

Aim: The utility of retinal thickness analysis (RTA) in the primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) early diagnosis and in the follow-up was evaluated. Materials and Methods: The nerve fibre layer thickness was analysed with the RTA by repeated examinations in POAG, ocular hypertension (OH) and healthy subjects (H). Results: In the POAG group, a statistically significant reduction of mean retinal thickness (MRT) compared to H group was evidenced both in the total area examined and in each of the four quadrants. The visual field evaluation classified the POAG group’s visual fields in stage 1 and the OH group’s visual fields in stage 0. Conclusion: RTA reveals a variation of mean retinal thickness, even before a functional and/or morphological optic nerve alteration appears. RTA is a complementary tool with the exams usually applied in the diagnosis of glaucoma, even though the information obtained is not specific for glaucoma.