Ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer measurement beneficial in glaucoma diagnosis

This prospective study found that the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer may represent an alternative or complementary parameter to retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness for the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma patients.

Macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness, total macular cube thickness, circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and disc rim area showed similar performance in diagnosing glaucoma, irrespective of the optic disc size.

The authors used standard automated perimetry and Cirrus spectral domain optical coherence tomography to examine the diagnostic value of the perimacular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer in the detection of glaucoma according to the optic disc area in 87 normal subjects and 96 glaucoma patients.

Mean ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness and RNFL showed similar ability to diagnose glaucoma (P = 0.911). Mean ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness had higher diagnostic ability than central retinal subfield thickness (P = 0.001) and was the most sensitive parameter. Mean RNFL, minimum ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer, and the inferior and inferotemporal disc had the highest AUCs for small, medium and large discs, respectively. Total macular cube thickness showed comparable performance in diagnosing glaucoma with peripapillary RNFL thickness.