Quantitative evaluation of the optic nerve head in patients with unilateral visual field loss from primary open-angle glaucoma

Measurable structural alterations of the optic nerve head may precede visual field abnormalities in early open-angle glaucoma. The authors studied the optic nerve heads of 10 patients with unilateral visual field loss from primary open-angle glaucoma, and 12 age- and sex-matched normal subjects. Topographic optic nerve head parameters were measured with a system of computerized image analysis (Rodenstock Analyzer, G. Rodenstock Instrumente GMBH, Munich, W. Germany). In patients with asymmetric primary open-angle glaucoma, eyes with normal visual fields had a slightly larger mean (+/- standard error of the mean) disc rim area (0.90 +/- 0.04 mm2) than eyes with glaucomatous visual field defects (0.78 +/- 0.05 mm2). However, both sets of eyes in the asymmetric primary open-angle glaucoma patients had smaller mean disc rim areas (P less than 0.0007) than did the control group (1.27 +/- 0.09 mm2). These findings support the hypothesis that loss of the optic disc rim can be detected before perimetric abnormalities develop in primary open-angle glaucoma.     

Correlation of structure and function in glaucoma. Quantitative measurements of disc and field

The relationship between quantitative structural measurements of the optic nerve head and quantitative measurements of the visual field in glaucoma was studied. Computerized videographic image analysis (Rodenstock Analyzer) was used to obtain cup-disc ratio, disc rim area, and cup volume in 50 glaucoma suspects and 37 glaucoma patients. The visual field indices, mean defect and loss standard deviation, were calculated from Octopus Program 32. There were statistically significant linear correlations between each of the optic nerve structural parameters and visual field mean defect and loss standard deviation. The strongest correlation was between disc rim area and visual field mean defect (r = -0.49), which are both global measures of glaucomatous damage. The correlations were not strong enough to readily allow the recognition of early nerve damage by the parameters analyzed thus far. Closer correlations may be evident if structural parameters can be found that more accurately reflect the number of surviving axons in the optic nerve head.     

Optic nerve blood flow is diminished in eyes of primary open-angle glaucoma suspects.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate optic nerve blood flow in primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes with normal automated visual fields, in an attempt to elucidate how early in the glaucomatous disease process changes in optic nerve blood flow become apparent. METHODS: Twenty-one eyes (21 patients) suspected of having primary open-angle glaucoma were studied prospectively and compared with a previously reported cohort of 22 eyes (22 patients) with primary open-angle glaucoma and 15 eyes (15 subjects) of age-matched controls. Primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes had untreated intraocular pressure greater than 21 mm Hg and normal visual fields using Humphrey program 24-2 or 30-2 with a full threshold strategy. Laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure optic nerve head blood velocity, volume, and flow at four quadrants in the optic nerve, in the cup, and in the foveola of one eye of each patient. The mean flow from the superotemporal rim, inferotemporal rim, and cup was calculated (Flow(3)) and identified as the main outcome measure. Measurements from primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes were compared with corresponding measurements from controls and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma; a Student t test was employed with a Bonferroni corrected P value of.025 to account for comparisons of primary open-angle glaucoma suspects both to controls and to eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. RESULTS: Compared with controls, Flow(3) was 24% lower in primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes (P <.0003). In primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes, flow was 16% lower in the superotemporal rim (P <.007), 35% lower in the cup (P <.007), and 22% lower in the inferotemporal neuroretinal rim (P <.029) compared with controls. No significant difference between primary open-angle glaucoma suspect and control eyes was seen in the inferonasal rim, superonasal rim, or foveola. No significant difference was detected at any location between primary open-angle glaucoma suspect eyes and eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Laser Doppler flowmetry detected circulatory abnormalities in primary open-angle glaucoma suspects who did not have any manifest visual field defect. Decreases in flow in glaucoma suspects were similar in magnitude to those of subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma. These data suggest that impaired optic nerve blood flow develops early in the glaucomatous process and does not develop solely as a result of glaucoma damage.     

The contour of the juxtapapillary nerve fiber layer in glaucoma

Reliable structural markers for early glaucomatous optic nerve damage would facilitate the diagnosis of glaucoma at an early stage, possibly before visual field loss occurs. Computerized image analyses were used to develop and analyze new structural parameters for glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Multiple measurements of relative juxtapapillary nerve fiber layer height were made in glaucoma patients (n = 112), patients suspected of having glaucoma (n = 87), and in age-matched normal control subjects (n = 53). The average relative nerve fiber layer (NFL) height differed in glaucoma patients and normal subjects by 70 microns, but differences exceeded 100 microns at the superior and inferior poles of the disc. Mean values for "glaucoma suspects" were intermediate between those for the normal subjects and glaucoma groups. The ability of summary statistics of relative NFL height measurements to discriminate between normal and glaucomatous eyes was superior to that of the standard disc parameters cup-disc ratio, disc rim area, and cup volume. Measurements of relative NFL height correlated with indices of visual field loss; the strongest correlations occurred for measurements at the superior and inferior poles. Measurements of juxtapapillary NFL height may prove useful to detect glaucomatous optic nerve damage at an early stage and to accurately recognize progressive nerve damage over time.     

Comparing glaucomatous optic neuropathy in primary open angle and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma eyes by optical coherence tomography

PURPOSE: To comparatively evaluate the optic nerve head (ONH) using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) in normal subjects, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (CPACG) patients. METHODS: A total of 138 normal eyes (138 subjects) and 139 glaucomatous eyes (139 patients), were evaluated in this cross-sectional observational study. The ONH was imaged on OCT using the optic disc scan. Disc area, cup area, rim area, vertical integrated rim area (VIRA), rim volume (horizontal integrated rim volume), average cup/disc ratio, horizontal and vertical cup/disc ratios, and cup volume were evaluated. Additionally, cup depth and slope of the temporal ONH were also measured. These ONH parameters were compared between normal subjects and eyes with early POAG and CPACG. Correlation of mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation on full threshold 30-2 perimetry, with measured ONH parameters was carried out amongst the two groups. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in disc area (2.38 +/- 0.5, 2.77 +/- 0.4, 2.62 +/- 0.4 mm(2), p < 0.01), cup area (0.88 +/- 0.6, 1.99 +/- 0.7, 1.60 +/- 0.7 mm(2), p < 0.01), rim area (1.48 +/- 0.4, 0.86 +/- 0.4, 0.96 +/- 0.4 mm(2), p < 0.01), VIRA (1.64 +/- 0.3, 1.23 +/- 0.3, 1.22 +/- 0.4 mm(2), p < 0.01), rim volume (0.34 +/- 0.2, 0.1 +/- 0.1, 0.15 +/- 0.1 mm(3), p < 0.01) and cup/disc ratio (0.36 +/- 0.2, 0.69 +/- 0.1, 0.63 +/- 0.2, p < 0.01) in normal vs POAG vs CPACG eyes respectively. A comparison of ONH parameters between early POAG and early CPACG showed a significant difference in the disc area (2.85 +/- 0.3, 2.57 +/- 0.4 mm(2), p = 0.03), cup area (2 +/- 0.5, 1.34 +/- 0.5 mm(2), p < 0.01), rim area (0.96 +/- 0.4, 1.21 +/- 0.5 mm(2), p = 0.009), rim volume (0.12 +/- 0.1, 0.18 +/- 0.1 mm(3), p < 0.01) and cup/disc ratio (0.67 +/- 0.1, 0.53 +/- 0.2, p < 0.01). The parameters with the highest area under the receiver operator characteristic (AROC) curves for differentiating normal and early POAG eyes were rim volume, 0.89, VIRA, 0.84, and rim area, 0.76. The AROC values (normal vs early CPACG eyes) were 0.75 for rim volume, 0.72 for VIRA, and 0.66 for rim area. CONCLUSION: OCT may serve as a useful diagnostic modality in distinguishing a normal optic disc from a glaucomatous one, even in the early stages of glaucoma. Rim volume, VIRA and rim area can be used to differentiate normal from early glaucoma (both early POAG and CPACG), and most efficiently early POAG eyes. CPACG eyes have smaller discs, a smaller cup, smaller cup/disc ratio, and a larger rim area when compared with eyes with POAG.     

Healthy optic discs with large cups--a diagnostic challenge in glaucoma

BACKGROUND: Healthy optic discs with large cups are often characterised to be glaucomatous in automated, morphometric analysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the variables of laser scanning tomography (LST) and nerve fibre polarimetry of these disks in comparison to small and normal sized disks. METHODS: 117 eyes (age 49.3 +/- 14.6 years) with healthy, non-atrophic disks (md = 0.8 dB, Tensio 14.3 +/- 2.5 mmHg) of the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry were clinically examined. Morphometry was performed both by planimetry and the HRT I (Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, version 2.01) and with the GDx FCC (Laser Diagnostics, San Diego). 63 eyes initially referred for a large cup were compared to 54 normal eyes. All measurements were analysed globally and in four sectors according to Jonas. RESULTS: The disc area of discs with large cups was significantly larger than that for the normals (3.1 +/- 5.3 vs. 2.2 +/- 4.2 mm (2)). Both the multivariate analysis of the HRT and the GDx revealed a significant correlation with total disk area (R = 0.34, p = 0.0001), with a high percentage of false positive glaucoma eyes among large disks. Cup area and volume showed, in contrast to rim volume and rim area, a significant correlation (R = 0.76, p = 0.0001) with the disc size. Thickness of retinal nerve fibre layer measurements both in HRT and GDx showed higher values for larger disc size with steeper cup measurements. The vertical diameter of the cup increased in comparison to the horizontal to a higher extent with increasing disc size. CONCLUSIONS: By the pronounced enlargement of cup measurements, decreasing nerve fibre thickness values and decreasing ratio of temporal-to-inferior width of the neuroretinal rim, large disks may easily be detected as false glaucomatous by morphometric analysis systems. A better presentation of large discs in a normative database and integration of sectors and disc area in a multivariate analysis may improve the diagnostic abilities of automated morphometric disk analysis.     

正常眼与原发性开角型青光眼的OCT视盘参数分析的对比研究

目的使用OCT评估正常眼与原发性开角型青光眼(primary open angle glaucoma,POAG)视盘(opticnerve head,ONH)的差异。方法选择具有青光眼性视神经损害或RNFL缺损、相应的视野缺损的开角型青光眼60例(60只眼),另选择正常眼60例(60只眼)作为正常对照组。对二组患者进行详细的眼科检查,并使用光学相干断层扫描仪(optical coherence tomography,OCT)测定视盘形态。OCT检查采用视盘扫描模式,评估数据包括视盘面积、视杯面积、盘沿面积、垂直盘沿面积(vertical integrated rim area,VIRA)、水平盘沿容积、平均杯盘比、水平和垂直杯盘比以及视杯容积。比较二组视盘参数,并比较平均误差(mean deviation,MD)和校正模型标准变异(correc-ted pattern standard deviation CPSD)与青光眼组的视盘参数有无相关。结果原发性开角型青和正常组之间视盘参数的比较具有显著性差异。正常眼、POAG比较分别为:视盘面积(211 /-0.5,2.62 /-0.4)mm2,(P<0.01),视杯面积(0.65 /-0.5,1.79 /-0.6)mm2,(P<0.01),盘沿面积(1.44 /-0.4,0.89 /-0.4)mm2,(P<0.01),VIRA(1.53 /-0.4,1.11 /-0.3)mm2,(P<0.01),盘沿容积(0.42 /-0.1,0.26 /-0.1)mm3,(P<0.061),杯盘比(0.31 /-0.2,0.62 /-0.2),(P<0.01)。结论OCT在开角型青光眼的早期诊断中具有重要价值。     

Measurement of relative nerve fiber layer surface height in glaucoma

A new parameter of structural optic nerve damage from glaucoma is reported, the relative nerve fiber layer surface height (RNFLH). Relative nerve fiber layer surface height is calculated from magnification-corrected surface contour measurements of the peripapillary retina made with computerized image analysis of stereoscopic videographic images. The technique measures the average height of the nerve fiber layer surface within a circumference 200 microns from the disc edge, as detected with narrow-band green light, with respect to a standardized reference plane. This parameter was examined in a group of 36 glaucoma patients with early to moderate visual field loss, and in 33 age-matched normal controls. The measured surface of the peripapillary nerve fiber layer was, on the average, 74 microns lower in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.000). The ability of RNFLH to distinguish glaucomatous eyes from normal eyes was tested by its sensitivity (83%) and specificity (88%), which were greater than the sensitivities and specificities of computerized measurements of cup-disc ratio, disc rim area, and cup volume. This approach represents a step toward the identification of quantitative structural parameters to reflect the number of retinal ganglion cell axons that enter the optic nerve. Such measurements may facilitate the early diagnosis of glaucoma and provide important information on rates of ganglion cell death in aging and disease.     

Measurements of peripapillary nerve fiber layer contour in glaucoma

We developed a method to quantify the surface contour of the peripapillary nerve fiber layer from simultaneous stereoscopic videographic images. Parameters that describe this contour are defined and compared to standard optic nerve structural parameters (cup/disk ratio, disk rim area, cup volume) in three age-matched groups of patients: 52 normal controls, 79 glaucoma suspects, and 101 glaucoma patients. Greater discriminatory information was obtained from the measurements from the superior and inferior quadrants than from the measurements from the temporal and nasal quadrants. This approach helps identify new structural markers that may more closely reflect the number of ganglion cell axons in the optic nerve. Such measurements made longitudinally in living eyes will provide valuable information about the relative rates of ganglion cell death in aging and in glaucoma.     

Small neuroretinal rim and large parapapillary atrophy as predictive factors for progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy

PURPOSE: To evaluate which morphologic features of the optic disc are predictive factors for progressive neuroretinal rim loss in chronic open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN: Prospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 394 eyes of 257 white patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Mean follow-up time was 31.8 months (median, 39.7 months). Progression of glaucoma was defined as loss of neuroretinal rim as detected by disc photographs. Presence of optic disc hemorrhages was not taken into account. METHODS: All patients underwent repeated qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs. Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier curves, and bivariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for patients' ages. Dependency of left and right eyes from the same subject was taken into account. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative and quantitative morphologic optic nerve head parameters. RESULTS: Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve changes was detected in 42 eyes (11%). At baseline of the study, neuroretinal rim area (total area, P = 0.03) was significantly smaller, and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (total area, P = 0.04) was significantly larger in the progressive study group compared with the nonprogressive study group. Neither study group varied significantly in size and shape of the optic disc, optic cup depth, alpha zone of parapapillary atrophy, and diameter of the retinal arteries and veins (P > 0.05). Multiple Cox regression analysis revealed that the progression of glaucoma depended significantly on the area of the neuroretinal rim (temporal sector, P = 0.003) and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (temporal inferior sector, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Important morphologic predictive factors for progression of the glaucomatous appearance of the optic nerve head in white persons are small size of neuroretinal rim and large area of beta zone of parapapillary atrophy. Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve head changes is independent of size and shape of the optic disc, size of alpha zone of parapapillary atrophy, retinal vessel diameter, and optic cup depth.     

HRT视盘参数在原发性开角型青光眼早期诊断中的作用

目的:在众多海德堡视网膜断层扫描仪(heidelberg retina tomogragh,HRT)测定的视盘参数中,筛选出最有助于青光眼早期诊断的视盘参数。方法:用HRT测定23例视野损害较轻的青光眼患者和23例正常人的视盘参数(杯盘面积比、盘沿面积、盘沿容积、视杯容积、视杯形态测量、视杯高度变异轮廓和平均神经纤维层厚度)作逐步判别分析。结果:盘沿面积和杯盘面积比对青光眼早期诊断最有帮助,其诊断敏感度和特异度分别为87%和96%。结论:本组资料盘沿面积和杯盘面积比是区分青光眼和正常眼最好的判别因素。     

Morphology of the optic papilla in glaucoma. II. Secondary chronic open angle glaucoma

Previous studies have shown that the chronic open-angle glaucomas form a heterogeneous spectrum of diseases which have in common an open anterior chamber angle and glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the appearance of the optic disc shows specific features among various types of secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Clinical data and color-stereo optic disc photographs of 126 patients with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and 47 patients with pigmentary glaucoma were compared with those of 501 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and of 481 normal subjects. The glaucoma groups did not differ in neuroretinal rim nor in perimetric mean defect. RESULTS: Mean optic disc area was significantly smaller in the pseudoexfoliative glaucoma eyes (2.54 +/- 0.51 mm2 vs. 2.71 +/- 0.63 mm2, p = 0.03) than in the primary open-angle glaucoma eyes. The pigmentary glaucoma group did not vary significantly from the primary open-angle glaucoma group in size of the optic disc. No significant differences were found for neuroretinal rim area, configuration of neuroretinal rim, depth of optic cup and diameters of the retinal arterioles and venules at the disc border between the secondary glaucoma groups and the POAG group respectively. Size of zone beta of the parapapillary atrophy was slightly, but not significantly smaller in the secondary glaucoma groups than in POAG. In the secondary glaucoma groups, the maximal intraocular pressure measurements were significantly (p < 0.001) higher than in the group with POAG. All glaucoma groups had a significantly smaller neuroretinal rim, significantly smaller retinal arterioles, and significantly larger parapapillary atrophy compared to the normal group. CONCLUSIONS: Except of a slightly smaller optic disc in eyes with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, eyes with secondary glaucoma due to pseudoexfoliation or due to pigmentary dispersion do not vary significantly in their optic disc morphology compared to POAG and do not show pathognomonic features of the optic disc despite marked changes in the anterior segment of the eye.     

Optic disc observations in glaucoma.

In glaucomatous eyes, contrary to normal eyes, the blind spot size is not correlated with the disc or cup size, and the size of the optic disc, cup and optic rim also varies. The variation in area of the glaucomatous optic disc correlates with variation in area of the optic cup. The rim width and total rim area in glaucomatous eyes are decreased. In glaucoma the upper, lower and nasal rim widths are about the same, whereas the smallest rim width occurs temporally. Thus, clinically cupping in glaucoma eyes need not be vertically oval.     

Ranking of optic disc variables for detection of glaucomatous optic nerve damage

PURPOSE: To describe optic disc variables assessed by evaluation of clinical optic disc photographs and to compare sensitivity and specificity of these optic disc parameters in identifying patients with ocular hypertension who have nerve fiber layer defects and normal visual fields and patients with visual field defects. METHODS: The study included 500 normal subjects, 132 patients with ocular hypertension with retinal nerve fiber layer defects and normal visual fields (preperimetric glaucoma), and 840 patients with glaucomatous visual field defects. Color stereo optic disc photographs were morphometrically evaluated. RESULTS: Highest diagnostic power for the separation between the normal group and the preperimetric glaucoma group had the vertical cup-to-disc diameter ratio corrected for its dependence on the optic disc size, total neuroretinal rim area, rim-to-disc area ratio corrected for disc size, and cup-to-disc area ratio corrected for disc size. Diagnostic power was lower for rim area in the temporal inferior and temporal superior disc sector, cup area corrected for disc size, and horizontal cup-to-disc diameter ratio corrected for disc size. Less useful for the differentiation between the normal subjects and the preperimetric glaucoma group were size of zones alpha and beta of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy, and ratios of neuroretinal rim width and rim area comparing various optic disc sectors with each other. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with ocular hypertension with retinal nerve fiber layer defects and normal conventional achromatic visual fields, the vertical cup-to-disc diameter ratio corrected for optic disc size, total neuroretinal rim area, rim-to-disc area ratio, and cup-to-disc area ratio corrected for disc size are the most valuable optic disc variables for early detection of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. Correction for optic disc size is necessary for optic disc variables directly or indirectly derived from the optic cup. Parapapillary atrophy is less important in the early detection of glaucoma.     

Measurement of optic disc and neuroretinal rim areas in normal and glaucomatous eyes. A new clinical method

A technique based on indirect ophthalmoscopy has been devised to enable measurement of structures in the posterior pole of the eye. It has been used to measure clinically the maximal and minimal diameters of both the optic disc and cup of 130 normal eyes from 66 patients and 33 optic discs from 20 patients with glaucomatous visual field loss. The disc area and neuroretinal rim area were derived mathematically for each eye. In the normal group the neuroretinal rim area was strongly correlated with the disc area (r = 0.89, P less than 0.0001). Only 9.1% of the glaucomatous group fell within the 95% prediction interval for the normal group, indicating a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for predicting the presence of visual field loss. Discs associated with mild field loss could be discriminated from those associated with moderate or severe field loss on the basis of disc and rim area measurements.     

Comparison of measurements of neuroretinal rim area between confocal laser scanning tomography and planimetry of photographs

BACKGROUND—To compare neuroretinal rim area measurements by confocal scanning laser tomography and planimetric evaluation of optic disc photographs.
METHODS—For 221 patients with primary and secondary open angle glaucoma, 72 subjects with ocular hypertension, and 139 normal subjects, the optic disc was morphometrically analysed by the confocal scanning laser tomograph HRT (Heidelberg retina tomograph) and by planimetric evaluation of stereo colour optic disc photographs.
RESULTS—Absolute rim area and rim to disc area were significantly (p<0.0001) larger with the HRT than with planimetric evaluation of photographs. Differences between the two methods were significantly (p<0.01) larger in normal eyes with small cupping than in normal eyes with large cupping, and differences were significantly (p<0.01) larger in glaucomatous eyes with marked nerve damage than in glaucomatous eyes with moderate nerve damage. Coefficients of correlations between rim measurements of both methods were R²=0.60 for rim to disc area and R²=0.33 for absolute rim area. Planimetric measurements of rim area correlated significantly (p<0.05) better than HRT determinations of rim area with mean visual field defect and retinal nerve fibre layer visibility.
CONCLUSIONS—Measurements of absolute rim area and rim to disc area are significantly larger with the HRT compared with planimetry of disc photographs. Differences between both methods depend on disc area, cup size and glaucoma stage. The reason may be that the HRT measures the retinal vessel trunk as part of the neuroretinal rim. The differences between both methods, which should be taken into account if disc measurements performed by both methods are compared with each other, may not influence the main advantage of the HRT—that is, morphological follow up examination of patients with glaucoma.

Keywords: glaucoma; neuroretinal rim area; confocal laser scanning tomography; planimetry     

Parapapillary retinal vessel diameter in normal and glaucoma eyes. II. Correlations

The juxtapapillary diameters of the superior temporal and inferior temporal retinal artery and vein have been shown to be significantly smaller in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes. They had been measured in 473 eyes of 281 patients with chronic primary open-angle glaucoma and in 275 eyes of 173 normal subjects. In the current study the vessel diameters were correlated with intra- and parapapillary morphometric data and visual field indices. Only one eye per patient and subject was taken for statistical analysis. The retinal vessel calibers were significantly (P less than 0.001) correlated with: (1) the area of the neuroretinal rim as a whole and in four different optic disc sectors; (2) the rim width determined every 30 degrees; (3) the optic cup area and diameters; (4) the horizontal and vertical cup/disc ratios and (5) the quotient of them; (6) the retinal nerve fiber layer score; (7) the area of the parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy; and (8) the visual field indices. In the same eye the vessel caliber was smaller in that sector where the neuroretinal rim loss was highest and the retinal fiber layer score lowest. In intraindividual comparison the vessels were smaller in that eye with less neuroretinal rim tissue and lower nerve fiber layer score. No significant correlations were found with the form of the optic disc, the area of the peripapillary scleral ring, side, sex and refraction. The correlation coefficients were not significantly different when the control group was matched for age. The parapapillary retinal vessel diameter decreases with advancing glaucomatous optic nerve damage. It is correlated with morphometric intra- and parapapillary glaucomatous changes and perimetric defects.     

Heidelberg retina tomography and optical coherence tomography in normal, ocular-hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) appearance in normal, ocular-hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes undergoing confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT). DESIGN: Prospective, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-eight eyes of 78 consecutive normal (n = 17), ocular-hypertensive (n = 23), and glaucomatous subjects (n = 38) were enrolled. METHODS: Each patient underwent complete ophthalmic examination, achromatic automated perimetry, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (Heidelberg Retinal Tomography [HRT]), and OCT. Topographic HRT parameters (disc area, cup-disc ratio, rim area, rim volume, cup shape measure, mean RNFL thickness, and cross-sectional area) and mean OCT-generated RNFL thickness were evaluated in each group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OCT and HRT assessment of optic disc and RNFL anatomy. RESULTS: OCT RNFL thickness showed no difference between normal and ocular-hypertensive eyes (P = 0.15) but was significantly less in glaucomatous eyes (P < 0.001). HRT measurements of rim area, cup-disc ratio, cup shape measure, RNFL thickness, and RNFL cross-sectional area were significantly less in glaucomatous eyes (all P < 0.005) and were correlated with mean OCT RNFL thickness (all P < 0.02). RNFL thickness using OCT or HRT was highly correlated with visual field mean defect during achromatic perimetry (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Both HRT and OCT can differentiate glaucomatous from nonglaucomatous eyes. RNFL thickness measurements using OCT correspond to disc topographic parameters using HRT.     

Photogrammetry of the optic disc in glaucoma and ocular hypertension with simultaneous stereo photography

Stereophotogrammetric evaluations of the optic cup were performed for normal, ocular hypertensive, and glaucomatous eyes. Average volume, area, and depth measurements were progressively larger from normal to ocular hypertensive to glaucomatous eyes, although the distributions of individual values exhibited considerable overlap among the three groups. Similar results were obtained for volume, area, and depth asymmetry between each pair of eyes. None of these measurements was able to distinguish accurately between normal and glaucomatous optic cups. However, normal eyes showed a high correlation (r = +0.85) between area and depth of the optic cup, whereas this area/depth relationship was reduced in ocular hypertensives (r = +0.63) and completely broke down for glaucomatous eyes (r = +0.04). Approximately 89% of the glaucomatous eyes and 47% of the ocular hypertensive eyes were beyond the range of normal area/depth correlation values. These findings represent an improvement over most previous attempts to quantitatively differentiate between normal and glaucomatous eyes on the basis of optic disc measurements alone, and support the hypothesis that optic disc damage usually precedes visual field loss in glaucoma. With further technical refinements such as computer image processing, stereophotogrammetry of the optic cup may become a valuable differential diagnostic technique for glaucoma.     

Optic disc morphometry correlated with confocal laser scanning Doppler flowmetry measurements in normal-pressure glaucoma

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between morphologic optic disc parameters and hemodynamic parameters as measured by confocal laser scanning Doppler flowmetry in patients with normal-pressure glaucoma. METHODS: The study included 91 eyes of 54 patients with normal-pressure glaucoma (mean age: 57.7 +/- 9.8 years), and 136 eyes of 77 age-adjusted normal controls. Color stereo optic disc photographs were morphometrically examined, and confocal laser scanning flowmetry (Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter) in the neuroretinal rim inside of the optic disc, and in the retina close to the temporal and nasal border of the optic nerve head was performed. RESULTS: Mean confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements in the neuroretinal rim, temporal parapapillary retina, and nasal parapapillary retina were significantly (P<0.03) lower in the normal-pressure glaucoma group than in the age-adjusted control group. Correspondingly, mean confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements within the neuroretinal rim decreased significantly, with relatively low correlation coefficients, decreasing neuroretinal rim area (P = 0.016; correlation coefficient r2 = 0.026), and increasing mean visual field defect (P = 0.011; r2 = 0.029). Measurements were statistically independent of alpha zone (P = 0.38; r2 = 0.004) and beta zone (P = 0.57; r2 = 0.002) of parapapillary atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements within the neuroretinal rim were lower in eyes with normal-pressure glaucoma than in age-matched normal eyes. Confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements decrease with increasing glaucomatous optic nerve damage. There is, however, a marked variability preventing a clear relationship between stage of glaucoma and decrease in confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements. The correlation between parapapillary atrophy and confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements is not statistically significant in normal-pressure glaucoma.