Adjusting Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Profile Using Retinal Artery Position Improves the Structure-Function Relationship in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether correcting the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness profile, using retinal artery position and papillomacular bundle tilt, can improve the structure-function relationship in glaucoma patients.

METHODS: Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and visual field measurements were conducted in 142 eyes of 90 subjects with open angle glaucoma. The SD-OCT cpRNFL thickness profile was corrected for retinal artery position and/or papillomacular tilt in all twelve 30° sectors of the optic disc, and the structure-function relationship against corresponding 30° sectorial retinal sensitivity was investigated by using linear mixed model.

RESULTS: Applying a correction to the cpRNFL thickness profile for retinal artery position resulted in a stronger structure-function relationship in all 12 sectors of the optic disc. Furthermore, applying a further adjustment for papillomacular tilt resulted in a further improvement in 9 of 12 sectors.

CONCLUSIONS: Correcting cpRNFL profile, using the retinal artery position significantly strengthened the structure-function relationship. In most optic disc sectors, using the papillomacular bundle tilt improved cpRNFL thickness measurements.