Estudio de la correlación función-estructura determinadas mediante perimetría automatizada convencional (Humphrey) y espesor retiniano medido con OCT Sprectralis en pacientes con glaucoma y sanos

Abstract

PURPOSE: To study the structure-function relationship in glaucoma and healthy patients, measured with OCT Spectralis and Humphrey perimetry, with new statistical approaches. METHODS: 85 eyes were prospectively selected and divided into 2 groups: glaucoma (44) and healthy patients (41). Three different statistical analysis approaches were carried out: 1. Factorial analysis of the threshold sensitivities (dB) (automated perimetry) and the macular thickness grid (μm) of the posterior pole asymmetry analysis (OCT Spectralis), subsequently applying Pearson’s correlation to the obtained regions. 2. Nonparametric regression analysis for the values in each pair of regions that showed significant correlation. 3. Nonparametric spatial regressions using three models designed for the purpose of this study. RESULTS: None of the statistical approaches revealed significant correlation between structure and function in the healthy patients group. In the glaucoma group was possible to draw a map linking structural and functional damage, in which each region of the macular grid, obtained with factorial analysis, was correlated with one or several regions of the visual field (VF). The strongest correlation with VF was observed in the peripheral nasal region of both hemigrids. The estimated functions obtained with the nonparametric regressions provided the mean sensitivity that corresponds to each given macular thickness. These functions allowed for the confirmation, quantification and accurate detection of the characteristics of the structure-function relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The application of nonparametric regressions, which had not been employed previously in this field, suggests good results and a great potential. The greatest advantage is that no pre-established functional form is imposed on the data.