Objective: To analyze the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(NFLT) as measured by optical coherence tomography(OCT) in glaucomatous eyes with hemifield defect and to evaluate the most effective parameter for the diagnosis of glaucoma with OCT.

Methods: One hundred eighty four(184) normal eyes(128 subjects) and 108 open-angle glaucomatous eyes(87 subjects) with superior or inferior hemifield defects verified by Humphrey field analyzer(HFA) were measured for NFLT with OCT. The correlations between NFLT and mean deviation on HFA were calculated. In combination with normal eye data, receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve) and AUC(area under the curve) of each NFLT in the affected hemifield were evaluated for the diagnosis of glaucoma.

Results: NFLT in both affected and unaffected hemifields was significantly correlated with mean deviation in HFA. An average of four 30 degrees segments close to the temporal side in the affected hemifield (parameter A120) had the highest correlation(r = 0.571) and the highest AUC(0.948) among all parameters.

Conclusions: NFLT in the unaffected visual field decreases with the progression of glaucomatous damage. We suggest that the parameter A120 is the best indication in a diagnosis of glaucoma when measuring NFLT by OCT.