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Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:70-74 doi:10.1136/bjo.86.1.70
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Specificity and sensitivity of glaucoma detection in the Japanese population using scanning laser polarimetry

  1. Shigeo Funaki1,
  2. Motohiro Shirakashi1,
  3. Kiyoshi Yaoeda1,
  4. Haruki Abe1,
  5. Shiho Kunimatsu2,
  6. Yasuyuki Suzuki2,
  7. Goji Tomita2,
  8. Makoto Araie2,
  9. Noriko Yamada3,
  10. Hideya Uchida3,
  11. Tetsuya Yamamoto3,
  12. Yoshiaki Kitazawa3
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
  1. Correspondence to: Shigeo Funaki, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Niigata University School of Medicine, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan; shigeo{at}muse.ocn.ne.jp
  • Accepted 17 July 2001

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the usefulness of the scanning laser polarimeter (GDx; GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer) for glaucoma detection in the Japanese population, and to investigate the difference in the thickness of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) between normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: 69 eyes of 69 normal subjects and 115 eyes of 115 chronic open angle glaucoma patients (60 NTG and 55 POAG patients) were studied. The thickness of RNFL was measured with GDx. An eye was diagnosed as glaucomatous, if at least one original GDx variable showed p <5%. The difference in thickness of RNFL between the NTG and POAG groups was then investigated.

Results: 46 normal eyes (66.7%) were diagnosed as not glaucomatous (no variables showing p <5%), and 93 glaucomatous eyes (46 NTG and 47 POAG eyes) (80.9%) were diagnosed as glaucomatous. Actual values of average thickness, ellipse average, superior average, and superior integral were significantly lower in the POAG group than those in the NTG group.

Conclusions: New variables which elucidate focal RNFL defects or early changes are needed to improve the moderate detection ability found in this present study. The pattern of the change in RNFL may differ in NTG and POAG groups.

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