Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for the Early Diagnosis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Myopic Patients

OBJECTIVE To assess anatomical damage in myopic patients and myopic patients with glaucoma using the Heidelberg Spectralis Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) with the “Glaucoma Premium” software. MATERIAL AND METHOD This is an observational analytical cohort study conducted on four groups: healthy, myopic, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and POAG with myopia. The variables studied were: the minimum distance between the Bruch’s Membrane Opening (BMO) and the Internal Limiting Membrane (BMO-MRW), the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) using the Heidelberg Spectralis OCT’s Glaucoma Premium program. RESULTS Regarding intraocular pressure (IOP), significant results were found in the nasal sector in the glaucoma group. In the glaucoma with myopia group, statistically significant results were obtained when analyzing RNFL thickness with refraction. In the analysis between RNFL and GCL thickness, significant results were found in the myopia and glaucoma groups; in the glaucoma with myopia group, this occurred in the superior temporal sector. CONCLUSION Myopes present certain biomechanical characteristics that affect their anatomy, making them more susceptible to changes in IOP as well as the development of glaucoma; when they develop glaucoma, the damage increases. All these alterations can be evaluated and monitored using the Spectralis OCT with the “Glaucoma Premium” software, which is one of the best tools for early detection of glaucoma in myopic patients.