Purpose: To ascertain if at
early glaucoma stages cellular retinal structure changes precede the nerve
fibre layer changes
Methods: The
electrical activity of retinal cells was ascertained using ERG and P-ERG
(according to ISCEV methods). The nerve fibre layer was measured circularly
around the optic nerve head using Optical coherent tomography (OCT). The visual
field was examined using special glaucoma threshold program on automated
perimetry Medmont M600.
Findings at 20
glaucoma patients (10 already treated with glaucoma therapy, 10 untreated in
the first instance) were compared with 60 unaffected control patients.
Results: The ERG
were confirmed at all glaucoma patients (oscillation potencials and P-ERG).
Nerve fibre layer thickness was found within normal limits in three of observed untreated glaucoma
patients. Automated perimetry demonstrated minute paracentral scotomas of various depth at arcuate area at 15
of observed glaucoma patients.
Conclusion: Our
results contribute that the changes in retinal cells can be at normal
nerve fibre layer. This fact deomonstrates at possibility primary damaged
retinal cells, that probably
precede to the axons damage.