Correlation between choroidal thickness and intraocular pressure control in primary angle-closure glaucoma

PURPOSE: To study the correlation between choroidal thickness (CT) and IOP control in primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). METHODS: In total, 61 patients (102 eyes) with PACG underwent subfoveal CT (SFCT) scanning using enhanced depth imaging–optical coherence tomography. The subjects with PACG were further grouped as controlled IOP (≤21 mm Hg on maximal medical therapy) and uncontrolled IOP (>21 mm Hg on maximal medical therapy). The average CT of the PACG eyes was calculated and compared between both groups. A correlation analysis was done between CT and intereye difference in CT with the disease parameters. RESULTS: The mean CT was 274.38 ± 42.10 μm in 102 PACG eyes. SFCT was significantly increased in the uncontrolled IOP group as compared with the controlled IOP group. The mean SFCT was 245.57 ± 62.10 μm in the controlled group and 294.46 ± 51.05 μm in the uncontrolled group (P < 0.01). Factors associated with a thicker choroid were younger age, high IOP, and higher optic nerve head cupping (P < 0.001). Neither the visual field-mean deviation (VF-MD) nor pattern standard deviation (PSD) was found to be associated with overall CT. The intereye asymmetry between CT was significantly associated with poor VF-MD and PSD. CONCLUSION: PACG eyes with thicker choroid may be a risk factor for poor IOP control on medical anti-glaucoma therapy. Thicker choroid as compared to the fellow eye is a poor prognostic sign and these eyes should be monitored closely.