Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness in Adult Children of Patients With Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma

Abstract

Précis: The adult children of patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) had universally lower retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness values compared with individuals with a negative family history of PXG. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate RNFL and GCC thicknesses in the adult children of individuals with PXG compared with people without a parental history of PXG. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 40 eyes of 40 adults with confirmed parental history of PXG and 40 eyes of 40 healthy adults with no parental history of PXG. RNFL and macular GCC thicknesses were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (Nidek RS-3000 Advance) and compared between the groups. All subjects also underwent visual field testing (program 30-2 of the Humphrey Field Analyzer), and their mean deviation and pattern SD values were compared. Results: Compared with adults without parental PXG, those with a parental history of PXG had significantly lower RNFL thickness overall (mean 98.2 vs 109.5 µm) and in all quadrants (inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal) (P<0.001 for all). They also had significantly lower GCC thickness overall (mean 97.9 vs 109.4 µm) and in both hemispheres (superior and inferior) (P<0.001 for all). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of mean deviation or pattern SD values (P>0.05). Conclusion: PXG in a parent was associated with significantly thinner RNFL and GCC compared with those with no history of PXG in a parent. Longer follow-up and prospective controlled clinical studies are needed to evaluate whether these findings may serve as an early indicator of glaucoma in the adult children of known PXG patients.