LAUSR

Purpose To compare retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL), the lamina cribrosa depth (LCD) and thickness (LCT) in unilateral exfoliative glaucoma (EXG) patients with their fellow eyes without exfoliation and control eyes. Methods This cross-sectional prospective single-center study consisted of 64 eyes of 32 patients with unilateral EXG and 35 eyes of controls. All subjects were examined with spectral domain optical coherence tomography for the RNFL and GC-IPL measurements. The LCD and LCT measurements were also obtained. Results The RNFL measurements at all quadrants were statistically thinner in EXG eyes than those in their eyes without EXG and control eyes ( p  < 0.001 for average, superior, temporal and inferior; p  = 0.004 for nasal). The EXG group had deeper LCD than their eyes without EXG and control eyes ( p  < 0.001, for both). The fellow eyes of EXG group had also deeper LCD than control eyes, with no statistical significance ( p  = 0.058). The mean LCT was thinner in EXG eyes compared to those in the eyes without EXG and control eyes ( p  < 0.001, for both). The eyes without EXG and control eyes had similar LCT ( p  = 0.293). Conclusions Recent developments in imaging technology give the clinician detailed structural information about optic nerve head and retina such as GC-IPL, LCD and LCT. In addition to follow-up of RNFL changes, these new parameters may be useful in recognizing progression in EXG patients.