Association between Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter and Lamina Cribrosa Morphology in Normal-Tension Glaucoma

(1) Background: To compare optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and healthy eyes and to investigate the association between ONSD and lamina cribrosa (LC) morphology. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study included 69 NTG eyes and 69 healthy eyes matched for age, axial length, and intraocular pressure. The LC curvature index (LCCI) was measured from horizontal Cirrus HD-OCT B-scan images from five uniformly divided positions vertically of the optic nerve. The average LCCI was defined as the mean of the measurements at these five locations. ONSD was measured as the width of the optic nerve sheath at the site perpendicular 3 mm behind the posterior globe. LCCI and ONSD were compared in eyes with NTG and healthy eyes. The clinical factors that could affect LCCI were analyzed. (3) Results: NTG eyes had significantly smaller mean ONSD (4.55 +/- 0.69 mm vs. 4.97 +/- 0.58 mm, p < 0.001) and larger average LCCI (11.61 +/- 1.43 vs. 7.58 +/- 0.90, p < 0.001) than matched healthy control eyes. LCCI was significantly correlated with smaller ONSD, higher intraocular pressure, thinner global retinal nerve fiber thickness, and worse visual field loss in all subjects (all Ps <= 0.022). (4) Conclusions: NTG eyes had smaller ONSD and greater LCCI than healthy control eyes. In addition, a negative correlation was observed between ONSD and LCCI. These findings suggest that cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which ONSD indirectly predicts, may affect LC configuration. Changes in the retrolaminar compartment may play a role in glaucoma pathogenesis.

Automated summary

This study found that the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients was smaller than in healthy individuals, and there was a negative correlation between ONSD and the curvature index of the lamina cribrosa (LC). These results suggest that cerebrospinal fluid pressure, which is indirectly predicted by ONSD, may affect the morphology of the LC and play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.