Monitoring of several morphometric parameters of the optic nerve and retina in persons without glaucoma and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma using various types of spectacle correction

Purpose: to perform long-term monitoring of the state of several morphometric parameters of the retina and optic nerve in persons without glaucoma and patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the conditions of achieving tolerant and target IOP against the background of the use of various types of spectacle correction. Material and methods: 139 patients aged 40–60 years with various types of clinical refraction were examined, 41 subjects (81 eyes) of them were without glaucoma, 98 patients (164 eyes) had POAG at stage I–II. In addition to standard methods, the scope of the examination included optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve and the central area of the retina to determine the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), retinal ganglion cell complex (RGCC) and the area of the neuroretinal rim (NRR). The study was conducted in 4 observation groups. The first (21subjects) and the second (20 subjects) groups were represented by persons without glaucoma who used monofocal spectacle correction and progressive spectacle correction for near work, respectively. The third (50 subjects) and the fourth (48 subjects) groups were composed of patients with POAG who also used, respectively, monofocal spectacle correction for near vision or progressive spectacle correction against the background of topical hypotensive therapy with the achievement of tolerant and target IOP. The follow-up period was three years. Results: There were no significant changes in the area of NRR (p 0,5) and in the thickness of RNFL (p 0,2) and RGCC (p 0,3) over the three-year follow-up period in all patients without glaucoma. In patients with POAG who applied progressive correction, no negative dynamics was revealed in the NRR area (p 0,5) and in the thickness of RNFL (p 0,5) and RGCC (p 0,5) during the follow-up period. POAG patients with using monofocal correction had noticeable losses in RNFL and RGCC thickness (p 0,05) without a significant decrease in the area of NRR (p 0,3). Conclusion: The progressive spectacle correction using provides accommodative regulation of IOP in POAG and implements an indirect neuroprotective effect.