Comparison of longitudinal changes in circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness after acute primary angle closure: a 12-month prospective study.

PURPOSE: To compare longitudinal changes in circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses and factors that are related to changes in cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses after acute primary angle closure (APAC).

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective consecutive case series.

METHODS: This study was a prospective, consecutive case series study including 64 eyes of 64 subjects with APAC. cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses were measured by RTVue-100 OCT. To measure cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses, the "three-dimensional (3D) optic disc scan and ONH scan" and "GCC" scan mode were used. Differences in cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses between the affected eye and fellow eye were compared, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the factors associated with longitudinal changes in cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses.

RESULTS: The average, superior and inferior cpRNFL, and GCC thicknesses were thicker in the affected eye than in the fellow eye within 1 week after remission and gradually decreased up to 12 months after remission. Compared with the cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses at 1 week after remission, the cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after remission were significantly thinner. Logistic regression analysis revealed that a longer duration from the onset of symptoms to adjustment of treatment (cpRNFL: odds ratio = 0.865, p = 0.003) (GCC: odds ratio = 0.824, p = 0.001) was associated with abnormal cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses.

CONCLUSION: A week after APAC both cpRNFL and GCC thicknesses were thicker in the affected eye than in the fellow eye and further decreased up to 12 months post APAC. A longer duration from the onset of symptoms to adjustment of treatment was associated with cpRNFL and GCC loss after APAC.