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Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma pp 13–25Cite as

Role of Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma

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Abstract

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the ultimate target of glaucomatous damage. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) revolutionized the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucoma as it can detect RGC damage objectively and quantitatively. OCT can demonstrate changes related to RGC damage in three anatomical domains. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) analysis has been a primary outcome of interest and can establish loss of RGC axons. Macular ganglion cell analysis can demonstrate thinning of the RGC axonal complex directly at the macula. Optic nerve head analysis measures changes in the RGC axons at the level of the neuroretinal rim. The use of these three approaches together increases the chances of detecting glaucomatous damage in very early stages. In an individual patient, any of these parameters might be affected earlier than the other two, and hence, measuring the RNFL, neuroretinal rim and macula simultaneously increases the odds for identifying early glaucoma. The aim of this chapter is to summarize the role of these three approaches in clinical practice for diagnosis of glaucoma.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Akman

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  1. Ahmet Akman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ahmet Akman

  2. Department of Glaucoma, Dünyagöz Eye Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Atilla Bayer

  3. Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kouros Nouri-Mahdavi

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Akman, A. (2018). Role of Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma. In: Akman, A., Bayer, A., Nouri-Mahdavi, K. (eds) Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94905-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94905-5_3

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94905-5

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