Relationship between intraocular pressure and retinal nerve fibre thickness loss in a monkey model of chronic ocular hypertension

Chronic ocular hypertension (COHT) monkey models were established by destroying the trabecular meshwork, for investigating the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness loss. IOP and RNFL thickness were measured before laser injury and weekly thereafter for 27 weeks using Tono Vet and Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT). The quantitative relationship was as follows: (1) at 32–47 mmHg, the average damage rate was −3.08 ± 0.28 μm/week; (2) at 25–30 mmHg, it was −1.45 ± 0.19 μm/week. The inferior RNFL and superior RNFL turned out to be the most IOP-sensitive quadrants with the rate of RNFL change almost in parallel with IOP levels. The superior sector seemed to be resistant to high IOP conditions until a RNFL loss of ~20 μm was detected in the inferior sector. The rate of RNFL thickness loss was slowed with obvious turning points at RNFL thicknesses of ~75 μm, 65 μm, and 50 μm. The experimental results have achieved research significance. The COHT Monkey was an ideal animal model that can be used for evaluating the relationship between IOP and RNFL damage. Higher IOP was associated with faster RNFL thickness loss. The level of IOP was a vital factor for RNFL damage rate, and baseline/residual RNFL thickness was also important for subsequent RNFL damage. OCT was suitable for measuring RNFL thickness change in COHT monkey models.