To evaluate diagnostic ability of macular ganglion cell complex (mGCC), macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) measurements in glaucoma using swept source deep range imaging optical coherence tomography (DRI OCT-1, Topcon Co., Tokyo, Japan).

From August of 2014 to July of 2015, 109 eyes of 109 subjects were assessed for the average thickness and sectional thickness of both mGCC and mGCIPL to determine whether there exists any significant difference among advanced stage glaucoma group, early stage glaucoma group and normal group in Swept source OCT. Comparisons were also made between the above measurements and circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness measurements in their diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.

The diagnostic ability of mGCC based-mean thickness value (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.78/0.99) in detecting early stage glaucoma group as well as advanced stage group was not significantly different from that of cpRNFL thickness measurement. However, there was a significant difference in thickness between mGCIPL (AUC = 0.70) and cpRNFL in early stage glaucoma groups ( p = 0.018). The sensitivities and specificities of mGCC were 0.95/0.97, and those of mGCIPL were 0.92/0.97, respectively.

The two swept source OCT based methods measuring retinal ganglion cell layer thickness appeared to have a good diagnostic accuracy, high sensitivity and specificity in detecting glaucomatous eyes. Nevertheless, of the two methods, mGCC thickness measurement was more efficient in detecting early glaucomatous changes.