AIM: To compare, using the instruments’ built-in normative databases, the sensitivities of time-domain optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT) and spectral-domain OCT (Spectralis OCT) in the detection of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Fifty-two eyes of 35 patients with open angle glaucoma were included. A total of 69 hemiretinas with photographically identified RFNL defects were analyzed using the fast RNFL scan of Stratus OCT and the circle scan in Spectralis OCT. The OCT parameters were evaluated at 5% and 1% abnormality levels using the instruments’ built-in normative databases. The diagnostic sensitivity of each parameter was compared between the two devices. RESULTS: The Spectralis OCT detected RNFL defects within each quadrant more frequently than the Stratus OCT at both the 5% (79.7% vs 63.8%, P=0.01) and 1% (56.5% vs 40.6%, P=0.01) abnormality levels. At the 1% abnormality level, the sensitivity was significantly higher in the standard sector of Spectralis OCT than in the clock-hour sector of the Stratus OCT (68.1% vs 39.1%, P<0.01).