Purpose: The aim of the present study is to determine and compare the use of thickness of macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using OCT in diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma.
Patients and methods: The study was done on 220 eyes of 132 patients, and patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 included 120eyes of 82 patients more than 40 years who were diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma. Group 2 included 100normal eye of 50 control subjects. Glaucomatous eyes were further Classified into: Mild(early) glaucoma: 63 eyes, Moderate glaucoma: 47 eyes. Severe glaucoma: 10 eyes. The OCT was done using 3D-OCT 2000 (Topcon) to evaluate the following: RNFL parameters (average total thickness, superior average thickness, and inferior average thickness) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) parameters (total average thickness, superior average thickness, and inferior average thickness).
Result: There was a positive statistically significant association of high probability between the two groups regarding Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), RNFL thickness, GCC thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), and cup-to-disc ratio (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Imaging of the GCC has a strong diagnostic ability to RNFL in early differentiation between glaucoma patients and normal participants.