正常眼压性青光眼诊断中存在的问题

患者具有典型的青光眼视盘损害、视野缺损、前房角开放、眼压正常，并排除眼部或全身性疾病引起的视神经病变，即可诊断为正常眼压性青光眼。准确的眼压测量、两次以上24小时眼压曲线描记以及对眼部和全身可能原发疾病的排除在诊断过程中至关重要。     

Central corneal thickness in low-tension glaucoma

BACKGROUND: It is possible that the intraocular pressure (IOP) is underestimated in eyes whose central cornea is thinner than normal. The objective of this study was to determine and establish the significance of central corneal thickness in patients with low-tension (normal-tension) glaucoma compared with those with chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) or ocular hypertension and healthy eyes. METHODS: The study was carried out from February 1998 to May 1999. Central corneal thickness was measured by ultrasonic pachymetry and IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry in 25 patients with low-tension glaucoma (untreated IOP less than 21 mm Hg with evidence of optic nerve head damage and corresponding visual field loss on automated perimetry), 80 patients with COAG (untreated IOP 21 mm Hg or greater with evidence of optic nerve head damage and corresponding visual field loss on automated perimetry), 16 patients with ocular hypertension (untreated IOP 21 mm Hg or greater, with normal optic nerve head and no history of glaucoma or elevated IOP, and normal visual field on automated perimetry) and 50 control subjects (untreated IOP less than 21 mm Hg with normal optic nerve head and no history of glaucoma or elevated IOP). Analysis with Pearson's product-moment correlation was performed to determine the correlation of IOP and central corneal thickness, and one-way analysis of variance was used to compare corneal thickness between groups. RESULTS: The central cornea was significantly thinner in the low-tension glaucoma group (mean 513.2 mu [standard deviation (SD) 26.1 mu]) than in the COAG group (mean 548.2 mu [SD 35.0 mu]) and the control group (mean 556.7 mu [SD 35.9 mu]) (p < 0.001). No significant difference in corneal thickness was found between the COAG and control groups. The ocular hypertension group had significantly thicker corneas (mean 597.5 mu [SD 23.6 mu]) than the three other groups (p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION: Patients with low-tension glaucoma may have thinner corneas than patients with COAG and healthy subjects. This results in underestimation of their IOP. Corneal thickness should be taken into account when managing these patients to avoid undertreatment.     

正常眼压性青光眼与高眼压性青光眼视神经图像分析的对比研究

目的 探讨正常眼压性青光眼 (normal-tension glaucoma, NTG)与高眼压性青光眼(high-tension glaucoma, HTG)视盘和视神经纤维层(retinal nerve fiber layer, RNFL)损害的差异。 方法 选择具有青光眼性视神经损害或RNFL缺损、相应的视野缺损的青光眼患者,NTG至少2次24 h眼压曲线和多次眼压测量均≤21 mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa)，HTG的眼压至少2次测量≥25 mm Hg。患者进行详细的眼科检查，同时用扫描激光偏振仪(scanning laser polarimetry, SLP)、光学相干断层扫描（optical coherence tomography, OCT）和海德堡视网膜成像仪(Heidelberg retinal tomography, HRT)定量测定视盘形态和RNFL厚度。比较两组视盘总体和相同象限测量参数。 结果 30例 NTG和 19例 HTG (共49只眼)患者的平均年龄分别为(59.6±8.6)岁(39～71岁)和(59.2±12.3)岁(36～75岁)。两组间视野缺损的平均偏差(mean deviation, MD)差异不显著(P＞0.05)。HRT测量的视盘 C/D面积比，除鼻侧象限外,NTG者视盘总体和上、下、颞侧3个象限均显著大于HTG者(P＜0.05 ),而盘缘面积小于HTG者(P＜0.05)；两组间其他视盘参数差异不显著。3种激光扫描技术所测定的总体和象限RNFL厚度，两组间差异不显著。 结论 NTG趋向大 C/D面积比和窄盘缘面积。RNFL缺损的形态分布须更精细和节段性分析。 (中华眼底病杂志, 2002, 18: 109-112)     

Intraocular pressure reduction with topical medications and progression of normal‐tension glaucoma: a 12‐year mean follow‐up study

Purpose: To investigate whether the amount of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction with topical medications is associated with the progression of normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) and to identify risk factors for NTG progression. Methods: The medical records of 121 eyes of 121 NTG patients, who were treated with topical medications for more than 7 years, were reviewed. NTG progression was defined by either structural (optic disc or retinal nerve fibre layer) or functional (visual field) deterioration. Patients were divided into tertile groups according to the percentage IOP reduction from baseline, and the cumulative probability of NTG progression between upper and lower tertile group was compared using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Multivariate analysis with Cox’s proportional hazard model was performed to identify the hazard ratio (HR) of clinical factors for NTG progression. Results: The average follow‐up period was 12.2 years, and 56 of 121 eyes (46.3%) showed the NTG progression. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that upper tertile group (percentage IOP reduction >22.1%) showed a greater cumulative probability of non‐progression than lower tertile group (percentage IOP reduction < 13.3%; p = 0.012). Multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard model indicated that percentage reduction of IOP (HR = 0.964; p = 0.007) and the occurrence of disc haemorrhage (HR = 2.410; p = 0.008) were significantly associated with NTG progression. Conclusions: The amount of IOP reduction using topical medications was related to NTG progression, and lower percentage reduction in IOP was a consistent risk factor for progression.     

Long term outcome of secondary glaucoma following vitreoretinal surgery

PURPOSE: To determine the long term outcome of secondary glaucoma following retinal reattachment surgery. METHOD: A longitudinal retrospective study was undertaken of the medical records of patients referred to the Glaucoma Service at Moorfields Eye Hospital following retinal reattachment surgery. The main outcome measures were final intraocular pressure (IOP), progression in cup:disc ratio, and final visual acuity outcome. RESULTS: A total of 70 eyes of 70 patients (41 males and 29 females) were identified and included in the analysis. Mean increase of IOP 2-3 weeks following the first vitreoretinal procedure was 6 (SD 3) mm Hg. After a mean follow up of approximately 4 years the mean IOP had significantly decreased from 33 (SD 10) to 16 (SD 8) mm Hg (p<0.001). The visual outcome of eyes with final IOP less than 6 or greater than 21 mm Hg was significantly worse compared with those eyes with a normal (6-21 mm Hg) range of pressure (p = 0.022 and p = 0.009 respectively). Despite the effective control of IOP in the majority of patients during the follow up period, there was mild progression of the mean vertical cup:disc ratio from 0.6 (SD 0.2) to 0.7 (SD 0.2) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Secondary glaucoma is a major complication following retinal reattachment surgery. Medical treatment is successful in lowering IOP in most patients. In persisting cases surgical treatment is very effective, however it can be associated with an increased risk of postoperative hypotony. Despite apparently adequate IOP control there may be progressive cupping of the optic disc.     

A comparison of visual field and optic disc appearance depending on the peak intraocular pressure in patients with normal-tension glaucoma

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical differences between the two groups depending on the peak intraocular pressure(IOP) in patients with normal-tension glaucoma(NTG). METHODS: We studied 96 eyes of 48 NTG patients who were hospitalized for diurnal IOP measurement. Then we selected the eye whose peak IOP was higher than the other, or the right eye if the peak IOP of both eyes was equal. We divided these eyes into a "high-teen" group (peak IOP > or = 16 mmHg) and a "low-teen" group(peak IOP < or = 15 mmHg). We compared these two groups by age, gender, refraction, IOP, visual field defect, optic disc appearance, and tomograph. We used a Humphrey C 30-2 program to estimate the visual field defect and classified the optic disc into four types according to Nicolela's criteria. 22 eyes were imaged with Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) to obtain topographic parameters of the optic disc. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, refraction, optic disc appearance, or tomograph between two groups. The trough and variation range of diurnal IOP were significantly larger in the high-teen group(p < 0.01). The value of mean deviation(MD) given by STATPAC was statistically lower in the high-teen group(p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with NTG, the visual field damage tended to be greater in the high-teen group than in the low-teen group. We surmise that the IOP might influence the progression of visual field defect in NTG.     

The relation between intraocular pressure peak in the water drinking test and visual field progression in glaucoma

AIM: To compare the results of the water drinking test between glaucomatous eyes with and without visual field progression. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 76 eyes of 76 open angle glaucoma patients followed for a mean period of 26.0 (SD 13.8) months. Patients were submitted to the water drinking test at the beginning of the follow up period. Reliable achromatic automated perimetry tests performed during the studied period were used to characterise visual field progression. All subjects were under clinical therapy and had an intraocular pressure (IOP) lower than 17 mm Hg monitored by isolated measurements during the follow up period. The results of the water drinking test were compared between glaucomatous eyes with and without visual field progression. RESULTS: Twenty eight eyes reached definite visual field progression. There were no significant differences in the mean age, sex, race, basal IOP, number of antiglaucomatous drugs, initial mean deviation (MD), and corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) between eyes that showed visual field progression and the ones who did not progress. A significant difference of 1.9 (SD 0.6) mm Hg (p = 0.001, analysis of covariance; 95% CI 0.8 to 3.0) was observed between glaucomatous eyes that showed visual field deterioration and glaucomatous eyes that did not progress. A significant difference of 16.8% (SD 4.6%) in the mean percentage of IOP variation was also observed between the two groups (p<0.001, analysis of covariance; 95% CI 7.7 to 26.0). CONCLUSIONS: Mean IOP peak and percentage of IOP variation during water drinking test were significantly higher in patients with visual field progression compared with patients who did not progress.     

原发性开角型青光眼视神经损害进展与眼压波动及视盘旁萎缩弧扩大的关系

目的 分析原发性开角型青光眼（POAG）视神经损害进展的相关危险因素。设计 回顾性病例系列。 研究对象 北京同仁医院眼科门诊确诊的POAG、随访3年以上、眼底照片及眼压资料完整的患者115例（197眼）。方法 将患者初次就诊和末次就诊的眼底图片在计算机图像处理软件下进行图像配准,通过叠加闪烁对比观察眼底病变的细微改变。平均随访（56.6±14.8）个月。青光眼视神经损害进展的标准为盘沿丢失进展或伴有视网膜神经纤维层缺损进展。主要指标 可能导致青光眼视神经损害进展的多因素Logistic回归分析。结果 视神经损害进展98眼,未进展99眼,进展率49.75%。单因素Logistic回归分析显示视神经损害进展与眼压波动（P=0.000）、峰值眼压（P=0.001）及随访时间（P=0.041）有关;卡方检验显示视神经损害进展与盘沿出血（P=0.02）及视盘旁萎缩弧扩大（P=0.000）有关。多因素Logistic 回归分析显示视神经损害进展与眼压波动（P=0.000）及视盘旁萎缩弧扩大（P=0.000）有关。视神经损害进展组与未进展组相比,眼压波动明显大,前者眼压波动值平均为（2.87±1.29）（0.89～7.21）,后者眼压波动值平均为（2.11±0.94）（0.25～4.97）;并且视盘旁萎缩弧扩大的比例明显增高,视神经损害进展组无β区萎缩弧者5眼（5.1%）,有β区萎缩弧扩大者75眼（76.53%）。结论 除峰值眼压外,过大的眼压波动及β区萎缩弧扩大是POAG视神经损害进展的重要危险因素。（眼科,2012,21：39-42）     

Prognostic Factors for Progression of Visual Field Damage in Patients with Normal-Tension Glaucoma

Purpose

To evaluate the rate of progression and the prognostic factors of visual field damage in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

Methods

Ninety-two NTG patients (92 eyes) were followed up for more than 2 years with topical antiglaucoma medications. All subjects were classified as having early damaged eyes with an initial mean deviation (MD) of ?6?dB or better, moderately damaged eyes with MD between ?6?dB and ?12?dB, and severely damaged eyes with MD of ?12?dB or worse, and survival data were analyzed using regression analysis based on the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

The probability of visual field stability was significantly higher in patients with moderate damage than in those with severe damage (P = 0.035). The patients with early damage showed no difference in the probability of visual field stability compared with patients with moderate or severe damage. The progression of visual field damage was significantly associated with mean intraocular pressure (IOP) (P = 0.000) or IOP fluctuation (P = 0.002) during follow-up regardless of the severity of the initial visual field damage.

Conclusions

The rate of progression of visual field damage differed according to the severity of the initial visual field damage. IOP reductive medication may be effective in preventing glaucomatous visual field progression in patients with NTG. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2006;50:38–43 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2006     

Effects of short term increase of intraocular pressure on optic disc cupping

AIMS—To evaluate the effect of acute elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) on optic disc cupping.
METHODS—10 emmetropic and 10 myopic volunteers were included in this study. The cup area (CA) and cup volume (CV) of the optic disc were determined with the Heidelberg retina tomograph (HRT). After baseline determinations, a suction cup was used to increase the intraocular pressure (IOP) to 20-25 mm Hg above the baseline and HRT images were obtained.
RESULTS—Baseline IOP was 13.5 (SD 1.3) mm Hg and 12.6 (2.6) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. The IOP was elevated to 35.4 (3.3) mm Hg and 34.4 (2.5) mm Hg in the emmetropic and myopic groups, respectively. When compared with their baseline values, the cupping variables (CA and CV) were significantly increased (p<0.05) during the suction treatment in both emmetropic and myopic subjects.
CONCLUSION—There was a significant enlargement in the optic disc cupping during the artificial increment of intraocular pressure in both emmetropic and myopic eyes. In non-glaucomatous eyes the optic nerve head has a partially dynamic topography dependent upon the level of IOP.

Keywords: optic disc; intraocular pressure; compliance; glaucoma     

Risk factors for progression of normal-tension glaucoma under β-blocker monotherapy

Purpose: To prospectively study prognostic factors for normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) under treatment with topical β-blocker. Methods: One hundred and forty-six eyes of 146 patients with NTG with a mean untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) of 14?mmHg, mild to moderate visual field damage and mean spherical equivalent refraction of -3.5 (-8.0 to +2.0) dioptre were randomized to topical nipradilol or timolol and followed for 3?years. The Humphrey full threshold 30-2 visual field test was performed every 6?months, and optic disc photographs were obtained every 12?months. Progression was defined as visual field progression, optic disc and/or peripapillary nerve fibre layer change, and factors relating to progression were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: IOP decreased by 1.0?mmHg over the 3-year period, during which 35% showed progression according to the aforementioned criteria. Optic disc haemorrhage (hazard ratio [HR] 4.00, p?相似文献   

Risk factors for progression of normal‐tension glaucoma under β‐blocker monotherapy

Purpose: To prospectively study prognostic factors for normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) under treatment with topical β‐blocker. Methods: One hundred and forty‐six eyes of 146 patients with NTG with a mean untreated intraocular pressure (IOP) of 14 mmHg, mild to moderate visual field damage and mean spherical equivalent refraction of ?3.5 (?8.0 to +2.0) dioptre were randomized to topical nipradilol or timolol and followed for 3 years. The Humphrey full threshold 30‐2 visual field test was performed every 6 months, and optic disc photographs were obtained every 12 months. Progression was defined as visual field progression, optic disc and/or peripapillary nerve fibre layer change, and factors relating to progression were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: IOP decreased by 1.0 mmHg over the 3‐year period, during which 35% showed progression according to the aforementioned criteria. Optic disc haemorrhage (hazard ratio [HR] 4.00, p < 0.001) and less extent of myopia (per dioptre, HR 1.15, p = 0.013) were significant risk factors. When progression was defined by visual field progression only, less extent of myopia was again a significant risk factor (HR 1.17, p = 0.038). Conclusion: Beside optic disc haemorrhage, less extent of myopia was a risk factor for progression in the current NTG population where most patients were mildly myopic and IOP during follow‐up averaged 13.2 mmHg under topical β‐blocker.     

Efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a prospective clinical study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 36 eyes of 36 patients suffering from uncontrolled POAG, treatment was carried out with a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before the treatment and one day, one week, one month and 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 months after. A failure was defined as an IOP reduction of less than 20% from pretreatment IOP, or a progression of visual field or optic disc damage requiring filtering surgery. The hypotensive medication during the study period remained unchanged. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 34 months (SD 12.9). The mean pretreatment IOP was 22.9 mm Hg (SD 2.1). At one month of follow-up, the mean IOP reduction was 5.3 mm Hg (SD 2.1) or 23.1% and at 6 months 5.6 mm Hg (SD 2.6) or 24.5%. At 12 months of follow-up, the mean IOP reduction was 5.6 mm Hg (SD 2.3) or 24.5% and at 24 months 6.2 mm Hg (SD 2.5) or 27%. At 36 months of follow-up, the mean IOP reduction was 6.4 mm Hg (SD 2.1) or 27.4% and at the end of 48 months of follow-up, the mean IOP reduction was 5.9 mm Hg (SD 2.0) or 25.4%. The success rate after 12 months determined from the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was 97%, after 24 months 88%, after 36 months 76% and after 48 months 71%. CONCLUSION: SLT is an effective procedure for the treatment of POAG.     

Efficacy of ripasudil in reducing intraocular pressure and medication score for ocular hypertension with inflammation and corticosteroid

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of ripasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication scores of anti-glaucoma drugs in patients with ocular hypertension with inflammation and corticosteroid. METHODS: The study included 11 patients diagnosed with ocular hypertension with inflammation and corticosteroid, all of whom were prescribed ripasudil eye drops and followed up for at least 2y after the initiation of treatment. IOP was measured using a non-contact tonometer before enrollment and at each follow-up visit. The medication score of glaucoma eye drops was calculated for each patient. RESULTS: The mean IOP (26.4±2.9 mm Hg before treatment) significantly decreased after ripasudil therapy (13.7±3.3 mm Hg at 3mo) and remained stable in the low-teens during the 2-year follow-up period (P<0.0001). A significant decrease in the medication score was observed at 12mo or later after the initiation of ripasudil therapy (P<0.05). Both baseline medication scores and glaucomatous optic disc change rates were significantly higher in the five eyes that required glaucoma surgery during the 2-year observation period than the 10 eyes that did not require surgery. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the efficacy of ripasudil, in reducing IOP and the medication score over a 2-year treatment period in patients with ocular hypertension with inflammation and corticosteroid. Our findings also suggest that ripasudil could reduce the IOP in uveitic glaucoma patients with both lower baseline medication score and lower glaucomatous optic disc change rate.     

Interocular asymmetry of optic disc size and its relevance to visual field loss in normal-tension glaucoma

We evaluated the relevance of interocular asymmetry of optic disc size to the level of intraocular pressure and the extent of optic disc and visual field changes in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Fifty-two eyes of 26 patients with NTG were measured for optic disc topography using a computerized image analysis system (IMAGEnet, Topcon), diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP), and Octopus automated visual field. Of the 26 patients, 22 had interocular asymmetry of the optic disc area of at least 0.01 mm² and of mean IOP of at least 0.3 mmHg. Of these 22 patients, 8 had the higher mean IOP in the eye with the larger optic disc. In these 8 patients, the visual field defect was significantly more advanced in the eye with the larger optic disc (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, P < 0.05). These findings appear to support the hypothesis that an eye with a large optic disc may be more vulnerable to a rise in IOP.     

Diurnal fluctuation and concordance of intraocular pressure in glaucoma suspects and normal tension glaucoma patients

PURPOSE: The study objective was to determine the concordance of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma suspects (GS) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of diurnal curves of untreated GS and NTG patients. No subject had IOP greater than 21 mm Hg. We defined GS patients as having suspicious optic nerves with normal visual fields, and NTG patients as having glaucomatous optic nerves with associated visual field loss. Goldmann applanation tonometry was performed at 10:00, 13:00, 16:00, 19:00, 22:00, and 07:00. Linear association of OD and OS IOP was estimated using Pearson correlation coefficient (r). The diurnal period was divided into 7 time intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 hours, and the absolute difference in change in IOP between fellow eyes and probability that it was within 3 mm Hg were calculated. RESULTS: The study included 68 GS and 95 NTG subjects. The diurnal curves of the OD and OS showed a parallel course in both groups. The average correlations (r) of OD and OS IOP over the 6 time points were 0.78 and 0.81 for GS and NTG, respectively. The mean absolute difference in IOP change between OD and OS over the 6 time intervals ranged between 1.4 and 1.9 mm Hg for GS, and 1.3 and 1.5 mm Hg for NTG subjects. The probability that this difference was within 3 mm Hg ranged between 87% and 94% for GS, and 86% and 93% for NTG subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The diurnal variation in IOP between the 2 eyes in GS and NTG is largely concordant in approximately 90% of the time.     

Central corneal thickness and progression of the visual field and optic disc in glaucoma

AIMS: To determine whether central corneal thickness (CCT) is a significant predictor of visual field and optic disc progression in open angle glaucoma. METHODS: Data were obtained from a prospective study of glaucoma patients tested with static automated perimetry and confocal scanning laser tomography every 6 months. Progression was determined using a trend based approach called evidence of change (EOC) analysis in which sectoral ordinal scores based on the significance of regression coefficients of visual field pattern deviation and neuroretinal rim area over time are summed. Visual field progression was also determined using the event based glaucoma change probability (GCP) analysis using both total and pattern deviation. RESULTS: The sample contained 101 eyes of 54 patients (mean (SD) age 56.5 (9.8) years) with a mean follow up of 9.2 (0.7) years and 20.7 (2.3) sets of examinations every 6 months. Lower CCT was associated with worse baseline visual fields and lower mean IOP in the follow up. In the longitudinal analysis CCT was not correlated with the EOC scores for visual field or optic disc change. In the GCP analyses, there was a tendency for groups classified as progressing to have lower CCT compared to non-progressing groups. In a multivariate analyses accounting for IOP, the opposite was found, whereby higher CCT was associated with visual field progression. None of the independent factors were predictive of optic disc progression. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with established glaucoma, CCT was not a useful index in the risk assessment of visual field and optic disc progression.     

Risk factors for visual field damage progression in normal-tension glaucoma eyes

· Background: This study was carried out to evaluate intraocular or systemic factors associated with the visual field damage progression in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). · Patients and methods: Forty-seven NTG eyes with a minimum follow-up of 5 years were enrolled into the retrospective study. A stepwise regression analysis was performed to correlate the visual field damage progression, expressed as the mean deviation (MD) change per year, with several independent clinical factors including age, history of disc hemorrhage, initial MD, mean intraocular pressure (IOP), peak IOP, diurnal fluctuation of IOP, presence of a β zone of peripapillary atrophy, and use of Ca²⁺-channel blockers. · Results: Statistical analysis revealed that non-use of Ca²⁺-channel blockers (P=0.01), peripapillary atrophy (P=0.03) and disc hemorrhage (P=0.04) were associated with visual loss progression. · Conclusions: Risk factors unrelated to IOP were suggested to be associated with progression of visual field loss. Systemic use of Ca²⁺-channel blockers has a favorable effect on visual field prognosis in NTG eyes. Received: 29 July 1997 Revised version received: 17 November 1997 Accepted: 9 December 1997     

Absolute filling defects of the optic disc in fluorescein angiograms in glaucoma--a retrospective clinical study

BACKGROUND: Analysis of clinical importance of the size of filling defects in fluorescein angiograms in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), ocular hypertension and subjects with physiological excavations in comparison to visual field loss, optic nerve head morphology and hemodynamics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 75 patients (POAG, NTG, ocular hypertension) and 10 healthy subjects with physiological excavations were included in this study. In digitized video fluorescein angiograms (Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope) the size of absolute filling defects of the optic disc was quantified in the early venous phase and expressed by percentage of the optic disc. Visual fields were obtained by conventional static perimetry (Humphrey 24-2) and graded in stages of glaucoma visual field defects (Aulhorn I-V). Optic disc excavations were evaluated as cup-to-disc-area-ratios. RESULTS: The filling defects correlated with the visual-field loss stages of Aulhorn and the visual field indices MD (mean deviation), PSD (pattern standard deviation) and CPSD (corrected pattern standard deviation). There was no correlation with the index SF (short-term fluctuation) and with systemic hemodynamics (blood pressure, perfusion pressure) or the IOP. Absolute filling defects correlated with the cup-to-disc-area-ratio in NTG. The absolute filling defects were larger in patients with glaucoma (POAG, NTG) in comparison to patients without glaucomatous visual field loss (ocular hypertension, glaucoma-like discs). No difference of filling defects was found in the glaucoma group (POAG, NTG). Patients with NTG had larger excavations and lower systolic blood pressures than patients with POAG. CONCLUSION: The size of fluorescein filling defects may be useful as a parameter for the evaluation of an ischemic lesion of the optic nerve head. Absolute filling defects may differentiate POAG from ocular hypertension and NTG from glaucoma-like discs without field defects. The results support the hypothesis that in POAG and NTG disturbances of the circulation result in similar filling defects of the optic disc and visual field loss.     

Difference of optic disc topography between a low-tension group and a high-tension group in normal-tension glaucoma patients

PURPOSE: Glaucomatous visual field loss and optic disc damage differ by intraocular pressure (IOP) levels. In this study, we compared the optic disc topography in the high-tension group and the low-tension group in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). METHOD: We selected NTG patients with mean deviation (MD) > or = -10.00 dB and the highest recorded IOP of < 14 mmHg or > or = 17 mmHg without glaucoma treatment. We classified NTG eyes into the following two groups: 1) a low-tension group with the highest recorded IOP of < 14 mmHg, 2) a high-tension group with the highest recorded IOP of > or = 17 mmHg. The optic disc parameters in the low-tension group eyes were compared with those in the high-tension group eyes using a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph. RESULTS: Nineteen eyes of nineteen patients were selected for each group. The cup/disc area ratio in the global sector, and the rim volume in the nasal sector of the low-tension group had deteriorated more than in the high-tension group. CONCLUSIONS: The disc topography is different between the low-tension group and the high-tension group in the nasal sector, suggesting that different pathogenetic mechanisms exist in the optic disc damage in NTG.