Comparison of Heidelberg retina tomography, optical coherence tomography and Humphrey visual field in early glaucoma diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the value of optic disc parameters and perimetric defects in the early diagnosis of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

Optic disc parameters and perimetry were compared among patients in the early stage of POAG, patients with suspected POAG and healthy control subjects, using Heidelberg retina tomography (HRT-II), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a Humphrey 750i automatic field analyser, in order to determine whether these parameters could be used for early POAG diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 55 participants were enrolled in the study. Significant differences in the optic disc parameter and perimetry values were observed between the three groups. HRT-II parameters showed good correlation with OCT parameters. The majority of the HRT-II and OCT parameters showed a good correlation with perimetry values.

CONCLUSIONS

HRT-II and OCT optic disc parameters both reflect morphological changes of the optic disc. These current findings suggest that they can both detect glaucomatous optic neuropathy earlier than a white-on-white perimetry examination. In addition, OCT can detect optic disc parameter changes that cannot be detected by HRT-II.