Comparative glaucomatous diagnosis using macular optical coherence tomography and perimetry with centrally condensed stimuli

The presentation and measurement of the internal retinal layers by current optical coherence tomography (OCT) instruments allow a precise topographic localization of macular glaucomatous damage. Ganglion cell analysis in particular can reveal slight central defects and can effectively be correlated with perimetric strategies with centrally condensed stimuli, so that small glaucomatous defects can be confirmed earlier and more confidently. Progression can also be verified in the early stages of the disease as enlargement and deepening of small localized defects. Macular OCT (mOCT) cannot sufficiently detect peripheral glaucomatous defects and may be impaired by macular pathologies; therefore, mOCT should be combined with other morphometric examinations. In order to take advantage of the technical capabilities of current OCT devices appropriate perimetric strategies should also be applied. As the algorithms for documentation and evaluation of the results of current OCT instruments are far less advanced than the technical capabilities, OCT results still have to be visually scrutinized together with the visual field results to benefit from the technical possibilities provided by modern OCT devices.