Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with juvenile

Purpose
To examine the influence of intraocular pressure (IOP) decreasing after trabeculectomy on the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) in glaucoma in the youth.

Material and methods
Nineteen eyes of 12 patients at the age from 10 to 18, mean 13,6 years, treated for juvenile glaucoma were examined. All of them were operated on performing trabeculectomy. Before trabeculectomy and mean 14,9 months after operation IOP was measured and the RNFL thickness with laser scanning polarimeter GDx was estimated.

Results
Values of IOP before surgery ranged from 23 to 28, mean 25,3 mmHg and after surgery ranged from 12 to 24, mean 14,3 mmHg. Symmetry and superior integral did not change, p = 0,96 after surgery. Average thickness of RNFL before operation was 60,61µm and after surgery 63,09µm, p = 0,06, superior average 74,14 µm and 78,33 µm, p = 0,06, inferior average 70,54 µm and 72,42 µm relatively p = 0,14.

Conclusions
Decreasing IOP after trabeculectomy allows to maintain preoperative values of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with juvenile glaucoma.