Structure-function relationships in glaucoma using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography-derived parameters: a cross-sectional observational study

Background To investigate structural and functional correlations in glaucoma patients using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT)-derived parameters. Methods We prospectively enrolled healthy participants and glaucomatous patients with a wide range of disease stages. All participants underwent visual field (VF) testing (SITA - Standard 24–2; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and EDI OCT imaging (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering Co., Heidelberg, Germany). The following optic nerve head parameters were measured on serial vertical EDI OCT B-scans by two experienced examiners masked to patients clinical data: lamina cribrosa (LC) thickness and area, prelaminar neural tissue thickness and area, anterior LC depth, Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) and average, superior, and inferior BMO-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW). Only good quality images were considered, and whenever both eyes were eligible, one was randomly selected for analysis. Scatter plots were constructed to investigate correlations between each anatomic parameter and patient’s VF status (based on VF index [VFI] values). Results A total of 73 eyes of 73 patients were included. All EDI OCT parameters evaluated differed significantly between glaucomatous and control eyes (P ≤ 0.045). A secondary analysis, in which glaucomatous patients were divided according to VF mean deviation index values into 3 groups (mild [G1; > − 6 dB], moderate [G2; − 6 to − 12 dB] and advanced [G3