EVALUATION OF GLAUCOMA PROGRESSION

Glaucoma is a multi-factorial optic neuropathy characterised by progressive structural loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) that may result in vision loss and irreversible blindness. The ability to detect structural loss is fundamental in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. The aim of the study was to assess the glaucoma progression among patients diagnosed with glaucoma. One hundred six eyes of 53 patients with glaucoma who were followed up during the period from 2010 to 2011 were included at “Ungjillezimi” Clinic in Tirana, Albania. Each eye had at least four serial RNFL measurements, and the first and last measurements were separated by at least 3 years. A total of 106 eyes of 53 patients with glaucoma were analysed. The average number of OCT scans and visual field tests for each eye was 9.5 and 8.9, respectively, with a median follow-up interval of approximately 4 months. The follow-up duration ranged between 3.0 and 5.2 years. The mean age (SD) was 56.8 (13.5) years. The respective baseline visual field MD and average RNFL thickness were 8.31±6.9 dB and 80.1±20.03. There were significant differences between baseline and final MD and average RNFL thickness measurements (p<0.001). Twenty-four eyes (22.6%) showed progression by trend analysis of VFI. Using SD-OCT to assess peripapillary RNFL and macular layers can be valuable, in conjunction with visual field analysis, to improve our ability to detect glaucoma progression.