Purpose: To evaluate morphological changes of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) in patients with moderate to severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) by 3.0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Eighteen patients with moderate to severe POAG, and eighteen age and gender mathched healthy subjects underwent MRI examinations. LGN was identified and manually extracted by two experienced neuroradiologists. The maximum height and volumes of the bilateral LGNs were measured. The patients and controls were compared with t test

Results: Bilateral LGNs could be visualized clearly by 3.0T MRI. The mean maximum height of the right LGN was 4.18±0.53mm for patients and 5.01±0.40mm for controls, while that of left LGN was 4.15±0.55mm for patients and 4.96±0.40mm for controls. The combined LGN height was 8.33±1.05mm for patients and 9.97±0.73mm for normal subjects. For volumes, the mean right LGN was 86.6±15.0 mm³ in patients whereas it was148.4±19.5 mm³ in controls, the left one was 83.4±17.9 mm³ in patients and  149.3±13.5 mm³ in controls, the combined LGN volumes of patients and controls were 169.9±29.0 mm³ and 297.7±29.2 mm³ respectively.