To evaluate macular thickness and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in semi-urban population of eastern U.P

To evaluate macular thickness and peripapillary retinal nerve fibre (pRNFL) layer thickness in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in semi-urban population of eastern U.P. : Cross-sectional observational study carried out on 72eyes of 42 POAG patients and 72 eyes of 36 normal individuals above 40 years from January 2023 – August 2023 in eye OPD of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki. Best corrected visual acuity, anterior segment examination, Gonioscopy, tonometry, Central corneal thickness, perimetry, fundoscopy, peripapillary RNFL and macular thickness using OCT was done in all patients. POAG patients had significantly lower mean pRNFL quadrant measurements in superior, inferior and temporal quadrants when compared with controls. 83.68 ± 13.55 vs.140.01 ± 4.53; p=0.001 for superior quadrant; 76.33 ± 12.96 vs. 141.99 ± 4.51; p=0.001 for inferior quadrant; 52.31 ± 8.67 vs. 74.36 ± 3.56; p=0.001 for temporal quadrant. Mean pRNFL thickness in the nasal quadrant was not found significant in our study (55.53±7.08 vs. 80.85±5.24; p=0.295). Significant differences in thickness in foveal, inferior outer, temporal inner and nasal inner sector between POAG and control patients (p<0.05) were found. Superior, inferior and temporal pRNFL quadrants thickness and foveal, inferior outer, temporal inner and nasal inner macular thickness were found to be the best parameters to diagnose POAG at early stage.