Clinical applications of optical coherence tomography in glaucoma

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is characterized by specific structural and functional changes that result from the loss of retinal ganglion cells and their corresponding axons.^1,2 These structural changes are evidenced clinically by thinning of the neuroretinal rim and have traditionally been evaluated by direct clinical observation of the optic disc and surrounding area, aided by stereoscopic photographs of the optic disc and photographs of the nerve fiber layer. It has been reported that structural changes precede the functional abnormalities detectable through standard automated achromatic perimetry.^3,4 Studies have also shown that there is significant variability in the appearance of the optic disc among individuals^5-7 and that important variability exists in its assessment among different observers.^8-10