Macular Choroidal Thickness: Evaluation of Variability among Measurements and Assessment of Predictive Value of Glaucomatous Visual Field Damage

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the choroidal circulation and glaucoma, assessing macular choroidal thickness (MCT) as a predictive value of glaucomatous visual field damage. Methods: Twenty primary open-angle glaucoma patients were recruited. Patients underwent 2 SS-OCT scans: one with DRI OCT (Topcon) and the other with PLEX Elite 9000 (Zeiss). Standard OCT parameters were acquired by DRI OCT, while MCT was manually measured in 5 points on Plex ELITE 9000 images. The relationship among MCT, standard OCT parameters, and visual field indices was evaluated. Pearson's r correlation was calculated to evaluate these relationships. Reproducibility of measurements was analyzed. Results: MCT measurements showed a good intra- and interobserver repeatability. A negative correlation appeared between MCT and BMI (r = -0.518, p = 0.023). Mean deviation showed a statistically significant correlation with MCT measured at subfoveal and at 1,000 mu m nasally (r = 0.50, p = 0.03, and r = 0.52, p = 0.023). A correlation was found between the 2 MCT (Zeiss vs. Topcon) measurements and between MCT and peripapillary choroidal thickness (r = 0.944 and r = 0.740, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: A good intra- and interobserver reproducibility was found. MCT showed a weak predictive value of glaucomatous visual field damage. A significant correlation was found between MCT and BMI.

Automated summary

This study investigated the relationship between choroidal circulation and glaucoma, finding that macular choroidal thickness (MCT) has some predictive value for glaucomatous visual field damage. There is also a correlation between MCT and BMI.