Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with primary congenital glaucoma measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in a population of children diagnosed with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG).

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 59 eyes of 59 children diagnosed with PCG and 87 eyes of 87 healthy children were evaluated by SD-OCT to measure the RNFL. The global average peripapillary RNFL thickness and sectional RNFL thickness were evaluated in both groups. Differences in global average and sectional thickness were analyzed.

Results: Mean age in the PCG group was 9.61 ± 3.23 years; in the control group, 8.47 ± 2.99 years (P = 0.0516). There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.007) in all sectors between both groups.

Conclusions: SD-OCT is a promising tool for evaluating the eyes of children diagnosed with PCG. Future research should examine the test-retest variability of SD-OCT parameters and their ability to diagnose progression in these children.