Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Optical Texture Analysis and 10-2 Visual Field Assessment in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To apply retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) optical texture analysis (ROTA) to 1) investigate the association between papillomacular and papillofoveal bundle defects with 10-2 visual field (VF) sensitivity abnormalities, and 2) integrate the information from RNFL bundle defect and 24-2 VF central test locations to determine the likelihood of 10-2 VF sensitivity abnormalities.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

METHODS

A total of 841 eyes (144 healthy, 317 glaucoma suspect, and 380 glaucoma) of 442 participants were included. Eyes underwent 24-2, and 10-2 VF testing and OCT for ROTA. The borders of RNFL defects were delineated from ROTA, and the involvement of the arcuate, papillomacular, and papillofoveal bundles was determined for each eye. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate the structure-function association.

RESULTS

Papillomacular (92.1%) and papillofoveal (37.9%) RNFL bundle defects were prevalent in eyes with glaucoma. A 10-2 VF location that was projected onto a papillomacular or a papillofoveal RNFL bundle defect had a significantly increased likelihood of reduced sensitivity (ORs of 18.61 at PDP < 5%, and 20.17 at TDP < 5%, respectively, P < .001 for both). When predicting the likelihood of VF abnormality in a 10-2 test location, noticeably higher odds ratios were observed when overlapping with an RNFL bundle defect, compared to when an abnormal corresponding 24-2 central point was present.

CONCLUSIONS

Papillomacular and papillofoveal RNFL bundle defects are present in a considerable proportion of eyes with glaucoma. When detected, they significantly increase the likelihood of abnormality in the corresponding central VF test locations assessed by the 10-2 test.