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Background: Glaucoma leads to changes in visual fields, optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). It is important to detect glaucomatous damage to avoid visual impairment and initiate treatment. Reversal of glaucomatous damage after intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering treatments has been reported in glaucoma patients. ONH and RNFL imaging by optical coherence tomography (OCT) are important to evaluate anatomical changes in glaucoma patients.
Objective: To assess the mean change in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) on optical coherence tomography (OCT) in glaucoma patients after trabeculectomy.
Study type, settings and duration: This quasi-experimental study (pre-post intervention) was carried out in the Department of Ophthalmology, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from August 2022 to February 2023.
Methodology: A total of 30 patients of either gender undergoing trabeculectomy, having a duration of glaucoma >03 months, between the ages of 30-60 years were included. Patients having media opacity, or previous intraocular surgery and/or patients with history of trauma were excluded. After taking history, ophthalmic examination was carried out. OCT was done to measure the baseline and 03 months post-operative RNFLT.
Results: There were 63.3% males and 36.7% females, the mean age was 51.83±16.24 years, and the mean duration of disease was 16.50±10.46 months. Mean pre-operative and post-operative RNFLT was 48.56±9.46 µm and 58.03±16.81 µm respectively, and the mean RNFLT change after trabeculectomy was 24.43±18.61 µm which was statistically significant (p <0.004).
Conclusion: This study showed significant increase in RNFLT after trabeculectomy which is a good prognostic factor in the control of glaucoma.