The aim of the research is to determine metabolic changes in brain tissue by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) for patients who had primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and to reveal a correlation between morphometric and functional alterations in the optic nerve and retina with basic MRS data. Methods: The study involved 24 patients with a diagnosis of POAG aged 58 to 80 years (mean age 73.2 ± 9.5 years). All patients underwent verification of the diagnosis of POAG, quantitative static perimetry (indexes were evaluated: MD - mean deviation), optical coherence tomography of the retina (assessment of the area of the neuro-retinal rim (NRR) and the thickness of the nerve fibers’ layer of the retina (RNFL)). The 2D-PRESS (Point RESolved Spectroscopy) volume-selection method was used for multivoxel MRS, TE (Time Echo) = 144ms TR (Time Repetition) = 2s, the size of each voxel was 10 * 10 * 15mm. The region of interest included thalami (4 voxels in each thalamus) and occipital cortex; Cho/Cr, NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho were evaluated.

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG), Multivoxel Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), N Acetyl Aspartate, Thalamus, Visual Cortex (VC), Neurodegeneration.