Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with primary congenital glaucoma measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in a population of children diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 59 eyes of 59 children diagnosed with PCG and 87 eyes of 87 healthy children were evaluated by SD-OCT to measure the RNFL. The global average peripapillary RNFL thickness and sectional RNFL thickness were evaluated in both groups. Differences in global average and sectional thickness were analyzed.

RESULTS

Mean age in the PCG group was 9.61 ± 3.23 years; in the control group, 8.47 ± 2.99 years (P = 0.0516). There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.007) in all sectors between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

SD-OCT is a promising tool for evaluating the eyes of children diagnosed with PCG. Future research should examine the test-retest variability of SD-OCT parameters and their ability to diagnose progression in these children.