Evaluation of peripapillary choroidal thickness in patients with glaucoma

AbstractPurpose We aimed to compare peripapillary choroidal thickness measurements between normal and glaucoma eyes.Methods Prospective, cross‐sectional comparative study. 46 eyes of 23 normal and 86 eyes of 45 glaucoma subjects were enrolled in the study. Peripapillary choroidal thickness was measured with spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography and enhanced depth imaging. After obtaining circular B‐scans around the disc, choroidal thicknesses were calculated for all quadrants. Difference in peripapillary choroidal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), central macula thickness and macula volume between the normal subjects and the patients with glaucoma was analyzed.Results There were no significant differences in age, gender or refraction between the two groups. RNFL in all quadrants and overall average thickness significantly thinner in the glaucoma group as compared to normal subjects (p<0.01). Peripapillary choroidal thickness of inferior (130 vs 112,6 μm, P < 0.01), temporal (180,1 vs 152,9 μm, P < 0.03) regions were significantly thinner and macular volume (8,42 vs 7,95 mm3, P < 0.015) were significantly lower in the glaucoma group as compared to normal subjects.Conclusion As compared to normal subjects, peripapillary choroidal thickness was significantly thinner and macula volume decreased in the glaucoma patients. The structural features of the choroid may be associated with pathophysiology of glaucoma.