Comparing retinal nerve fiber layer thickness by OCT with P-ERG in the diagnosis and monitor of open-angle glaucoma

Objective To compare the diagnostic and monitoring ability of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT)and pattern electroretinogram(PERG)in primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG).Methods In a cross-sectional clinical study,26 patients(50 eyes)with POAG were measured with OCT and PERG.The abnormal rates of OCT and PERG were compared by paired χ 2 test,and the correlation between RNFL thickness and PERG was investigated by linear regression analysis.Results In POAG eyes,the RNFL overall,superior and inferior thickness were significantly correlated with the PERG amplitude( P 0 05).The abnormal rate of quantification of the RNFL thickness was 40 9% at early stage of glaucoma,less than that of PERG(77 9%)significantly( P 0 05);and there were no significant difference between the abnormal rates of both methods at developing and late stage of glaucoma.Conclusions The sensitivity of OCT is lower than that of PERG in early diagnosis of glaucoma,there is a correlation between RNFL thickness and the amplitudes of PERG,quantification of RNFL thickness by OCT combined with PERG may be useful to early diagnosis and monitoring of POAG.