J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2021 Dec;62(12):1626-1636. 10.3341/jkos.2021.62.12.1626.

Choroidal Thickness in Advanced Glaucoma Patients

• Park DH
• Park SW
• Sung MS

• KMID: 2523316
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2021.62.12.1626

Abstract

Purpose
We investigated choroidal thickness according to the classification of glaucoma and related factors in patients with advanced glaucoma.
Methods
The present study included 133 eyes of 133 advanced glaucoma patients with a mean deviation of <-12 dB. Patients were classified into primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) groups. Factors related to the subfoveal and peripapillary choroidal thickness were analyzed using linear regression analysis.
Results
The mean peripapillary choroid thickness was 99.20 ± 46.85 µm in the NTG group, which was significantly thinner than in the POAG group (121.85 ± 45.39 µm, p = 0.006). Additionally, in the sectoral comparison, the NTG group had thinner choroids than the POAG group in all areas (p < 0.05 for all). In the linear regression analysis, glaucoma class (p = 0.007), age (p = 0.005), and intraocular pressure (IOP) (p = 0.024) significantly affected the peripapillary choroid thickness. Moreover, age (p = 0.029) and macular thickness (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with subfoveal choroid thickness.
Conclusions
In advanced glaucoma, low baseline IOP, NTG, and old age were significantly associated with a thin peripapillary choroid, suggesting an association between thin peripapillary choroid and the etiology of NTG. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance of a thin choroid in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Keyword

Advanced glaucoma, Choroidal thickness, Normal tension glaucoma, Primary open angle glaucoma