1. ¹Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
2. ²Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Correspondence: J-C Tsai, Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung County, 833, Taiwan. Tel: 886 7 7317 123; Fax: 886 7 7318 762; E-mail: tsai4118@ms26.hinet.net

Received 6 June 2002; Accepted 24 January 2003.

Abstract

Purpose To detect differences in retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) measurements between patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) and normal subjects using scanning laser polarimetry.

Methods This was a comparative cross-sectional study, where 32 eyes of 32 patients with AACG and 28 eyes of 28 normal subjects were imaged using scanning laser polarimetry (The Nerve Fibre Analyzer GDx, Laser Diagnostic Technology Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). The average RNFL thickness in four quadrants and various GDx parameters between the two groups were compared using Mann–Whitney tests with Bonferroni correction.

Results There were no significant differences in RNFL measurements for the average thickness, ellipse average, inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal average values between the AACG eyes and normal eyes. There were significant differences in some GDx parameters, including superior/nasal ratio (P=0.036), superior ratio (P=0.01), the GDx number (P=0.003), inferior ratio (P<0.001), maximum modulation (P<0.001), and ellipse modulation (P<0.001).

Conclusions Various GDx parameters exhibit significant changes in patients following short-duration AACG episodes, making GDx RNFL measurements useful for the diagnosis and follow-up of AACG.