Abstract: Objective To compare the macular choroidal thickness between primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal subjects using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Methods Scans were performed by EDI-OCT in eyes of 60 POAG patients and 60 age-and sex-matched normal subjects. The reliability analysis of intra-and inter-observer was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The intra-and inter-observer ICC values ranged from 0.994 to 0.999 and 0.995 to 0.998 respectively (both P<0.001). In the COPD patients and controls, the choroidal thickness beneath the fovea was thickest and the nasal choroidal thickness was thinnest. Each quadrant of choroidal thickness in POAG patients were thicker than that of the controls (t=3.114 to 4.456, P<0.05). For both subjects investigated, the choroidal thickness showed a negative correlation with age and axial length (r=-0.456 to -0.520,-0.445 to -0.491; P<0.05). Conclusion The choroidal thickness of POAG patients is thicker than that of the controls, and the thickening choroidal thickness in POAG patients is associated with the pathogenesis of glaucoma.

Key words: Choroid, Glaucoma, open-angle, Tomography, optical coherence