Structure function relationships differ between optic neuritis and glaucoma with comparable optical coherence tomography findings

This retrospective study compared structure-function relationships between patients with optic neuritis (ON) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), focusing on the extent of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) damage and its correlation with visual field (VF) defects. We included 194 patients (ON: 47; POAG: 147) referred to Yonsei University Severance Eye Hospital between 2017 and 2023. RNFL and GCIPL thickness, VF indices, and the relationship between structural and functional measures were assessed. Despite comparable RNFL and GCIPL thinning, ON demonstrated significantly better VF performance than POAG (mean deviation: -2.26 dB vs. -7.32 dB; VF index: 95.48% vs. 80.43%; both p < 0.001). In POAG, VF loss was strongly correlated with structural parameters, whereas in ON, VF remained preserved even at low RNFL and GCIPL values. Linear regression with robust error estimation confirmed significant interaction between disease type and structure-function slopes (p < 0.01). These findings persisted after 1:2 propensity score matching for age and comorbidities (ON: n = 29; POAG: n = 58; all interaction p < 0.05), age-adjusted multivariable regression, and a sensitivity analysis restricted to non-diabetic participants (ON: n = 45; POAG: n = 124; all interaction p < 0.001). This dissociation was evident at RNFL <90 µm and GCIPL <80 µm, where ON showed better VF indices than POAG with similar structural loss. The differences in structure-function relationships underscore the importance of disease-specific diagnostic approaches and unraveling the distinct mechanisms underlying ON and POAG to improve the management of visual impairments.