BMO-MRW best predictor of progression

When detecting and evaluating the progression of glaucoma, Bruch's membrane opening-minimum rim width (BRO-MRW) may be the best predictor of the threshold of visual sensitivity and total deviation of visual field, according to a study published in Clinical Ophthalmology.

Japanese researchers examined the association between structural parameters of the optic nerve head and glaucomatous visual field indices in a total of 57 eyes in 33 patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

The researchers measured the patients' visual fields, peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFL-T), BMO-MRW, and rim area. They then calculated Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between the threshold of visual sensitivity or total deviation of visual field and between the structural parameters as well as calculated RNFL-T and BMO-MRW volumes (each length multiplied by rim area).

They found that the threshold of visual sensitivity had the following correlation coefficients:

• 0.23 with global sector of RNFL-T
• 0.32 with BMO-MRW
• 0.14 with rim area
• 0.21 with RNFL-T volume
• 0.26 with BMO-MRW volume

The correlation coefficients for each parameter with total deviation of visual field were as follows:

• 0.22 with global sector of RNFL-T
• 0.33 with BMO-MRW
• 0.28 with rim area
• 0.36 with RNFL-T volume
• 0.37 with BMO-MRW volume

"Our study data confirm that total deviation was more strongly correlated with RNFL-T volume and BMO-MRW volume than with BMO-MRW. However, BMO-MRW appeared to be the best predictor of both the threshold of visual sensitivity and total deviation of visual field, and may be more useful for detecting and evaluating the progression of glaucoma," the researchers wrote.

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