In-vivo measurement of autofluorescence in the parapapillary atrophic zone of optic discs with and without glaucomatous atrophy

BACKGROUND: To assess the level of autofluorescence (lipofuscin) of atrophic parapapillary zones in different stages of glaucomatous optic disc atrophy. METHODS: Controlled cross-sectional prospective analysis of 79 consecutive eyes (15 normals as controls, 26 with ocular hypertension, 38 with primary open angle glaucoma). Eyes with retinal diseases or retinal pigment epithelial pathologies were excluded. The confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (HRA, Heidelberg Retina Angiograph) was used after lipofuscin excitation with argon blue laser (488 nm) to detect parapapillary autofluorescence in a spectrum above 500 nm. Size, extension of the parapapillary autofluorescent area and its mean distance to the optic nerve head were measured using the HRA standard software. Additional optic nerve head photographs taken with the 15 degrees Zeiss telecentric fundus camera (30 degrees camera with 2 x magnifier) were examined by two experienced ophthalmologists to determine the stage of glaucomatous optic disc atrophy (stages 0 to 4). RESULTS: Very small autofluorescent areas were found in vital discs (optic nerve glaucoma stage 0) in the parapapillary atrophic area (0.08 +/- 0.12 mm (2)) in contrast to glaucomatous discs in stage 1 (0.24 +/- 0.26 mm (2)) and stages 2, 3 and 4 (0.59 +/- 1.29 mm (2), logistic regression analysis r = 0.71; P = 0.029). The circular extension of the autofluorescent area correlated borderlined with the stage of the glaucomatous disc atrophy (higher glaucoma stages: r = 0.82; P = 0.09). The autofluorescent area was larger in OHT than in controls (0.11 mm (2) vs. 0.04 mm (2), P < 0.03). The circular extension of the autofluorescent area was longer in OHT than in controls (0.5 mm vs. 1.15 mm, P < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: As a sign of pronounced lipofuscin accumulation in the parapapillary atrophic zone higher degrees of fundus autofluorescence can be detected in OHT and manifest primary open angle glaucoma in contrast to normals. The lipofuscin accumulation is correlated with the stage of progression of glaucoma and the stage of optic disc atrophy. The detection of active parapapillary autofluorescent areas especially in OHT may offer the ophthalmologist an important tool for early diagnosis.     

Fluorescein filling defects of the optic nerve head in normal tension glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension and healthy controls

BACKGROUND: To evaluate fluorescein filling defects of the optic nerve head in normal tension glaucoma (NTG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), ocular hypertension (OHT) and controls. METHODS: Forty patients with NTG (mean age 55 +/- 10 years), 40 patients with POAG (mean age 55 +/- 11 years), 40 patients with OHT (mean age 53 +/- 13 years), and 40 age-matched controls (mean age 54 +/- 11 years) were included in a prospective study. Video fluorescein angiograms were performed by means of a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. The extent of absolute filling defects of the optic nerve head was assessed (as a percentage of the disc area) using digital image analysis. Visual fields were tested by automatic static perimetry (Humphrey Field Analyzer, programme 24-2). RESULTS: Absolute filling defects were significantly larger in patients with NTG (12.2 +/- 15.5%) and POAG (12.9 +/- 13.1%) compared to patients with OHT (1.2 +/- 3.6%) and healthy controls (0.1 +/- 0.5%) (p < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.806 for NTG vs healthy controls, and 0.812 for POAG vs OHT. Absolute filling defects are significantly correlated to the global indices mean deviation (r = -0.63, p < 0.0001), pattern standard deviation (r = 0.61, p < 0.0001), and corrected pattern standard deviation (r = 0.62, p < 0.0001) and significantly correlated to horizontal (r = 0.50, p < 0.0001) and vertical (r = 0.53, p < 0.0001) cup-to-disc-ratios. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescein filling defects of the optic disc representing capillary dropout are present in NTG and POAG. The extent of these filling defects is correlated to visual field loss and morphological damage. Fluorescein angiography may be useful in the diagnosis and management of NTG and POAG.     

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.     

Relationship between optic nerve head microcirculation and visual field loss in glaucoma

PURPOSE: To study the relationship between optic nerve head blood flow velocity and visual field loss in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: This study included 44 eyes of 44 patients with POAG and 44 eyes of 44 patients with NTG. To evaluate optic nerve head blood flow velocity, the square blur rate (SBR) was measured by means of laser speckle flowgraphy. The correlation between SBR and Humphrey visual field indices was evaluated with linear regression analysis. RESULTS: In the NTG group, the average SBR at the superior and inferior temporal neuroretinal rim was positively correlated with mean deviation (MD) (r = 0.349, p = 0.020). The SBR at the superior or inferior temporal neuroretinal rim was positively correlated with the sum of the total deviations in the corresponding hemifields (r = 0.299, p = 0.049; r = 0.354, p = 0.019, respectively). The correlations between SBR and MD did not differ statistically between the NTG and POAG groups; however, no significant correlation between SBR and visual field indices was observed in the POAG group. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the change in the circulation of the optic nerve head may be related to visual field damage in the NTG group but may be less involved in visual field damage in the POAG group.     

Differences in parapapillary atrophy between glaucomatous and normal eyes: the Beijing Eye Study

PURPOSE: To determine in a population-based study whether parapapillary atrophy is associated with glaucoma. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. METHODS: The Beijing Eye Study included 4,439 of 5,324 subjects invited to participate (response rate, 83.4%). Mean age was 56.2 +/- 10.6 years (range, 40 to 101 years). Color optic disk photographs (30 degrees) were examined morphometrically. Parapapillary atrophy was divided into alpha and beta zones. Glaucomatous optic nerve atrophy was defined by a glaucomatous optic nerve head appearance. RESULTS: After excluding highly myopic eyes, data from 4,003 (90.2%) subjects entered the statistical analysis. Glaucomatous optic nerve damage was detected in 93 (2.3%) subjects. The beta zone of parapapillary atrophy as a whole and measured separately in four disk sectors was significantly larger and occurred significantly more frequently in the glaucomatous group than in the nonglaucomatous group (beta zone total area, 1.21 +/- 1.92 mm2 vs 0.32 +/- 0.99 mm2; P < .001). In multiple regression analysis, area of beta zone was significantly associated with age (P < .001), myopic refractive error (P < .001), and presence of glaucomatous optic nerve damage (P < .001), with no significant difference between chronic open-angle glaucoma (n = 72) and chronic angle-closure glaucoma (n = 21; beta zone area, 1.20 +/- 0.39 mm2 vs 1.19 +/- 0.46 mm2; P = .69). CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based setting, the beta zone of parapapillary atrophy is significantly larger and occurs more frequently in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes of Chinese adults, with no marked difference between chronic open-angle glaucoma and primary angle-closure glaucoma.     

Intravascular oxygen saturation in retinal vessels in normal subjects and open-angle glaucoma subjects

PURPOSE: To measure the oxygen saturation (SO(2)) in retinal arterioles and venules in patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy. METHODS: We examined SO(2) in retinal arterioles and venules simultaneously by imaging spectrometry. Oxygen saturation was evaluated according to the difference of the extinction spectra of haemoglobin and oxyhaemoglobin. The arterio-venous difference (avD) was calculated by (SO(2art) - SO(2ven)). The optic nerve head topography was estimated by Heidelberg retinal tomography and the visual field using the Octopus G1. We examined one eye in each of 58 healthy persons (mean age 58.6 +/- 10.7 years; mean rim area 1.52 +/- 0.33 mm(2); mean defect 0.65 +/- 1.31 dB; mean intraocular pressure [IOP] 18.5 +/- 2.7 mmHg), 49 patients with normal-tension primary open-angle glaucoma (NTG) (mean age 63.0 +/- 8.5 years; mean rim area 0.89 +/- 0.34 mm(2); mean defect 5.4 +/- 4.1 dB; mean IOP 19.2 +/- 2.9 mmHg), and 45 patients with high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (mean age 62.6 +/- 10.3 years; mean rim area 0.97 +/- 0.47 mm(2); mean defect 7.1 +/- 6.4 dB; mean IOP 31.6 +/- 10.8 mmHg). RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficients of the SO(2) measurement were 0.82 (arteriole) and 0.59 (venule). In normal eyes, the SO(2art), SO(2ven) and avD were 92.3 +/- 3.4%, 55.7 +/- 6.8% and 36.6 +/- 7.0%, respectively. Equivalent data were 89.7 +/- 5.4%, 56.0 +/- 8.3% and 33.7 +/- 10.6%, respectively, in NTG eyes and 91.4 +/- 4.0%, 58.3 +/- 10.5% and 33.1 +/- 11.5%, respectively, in POAG eyes. Over all examined eyes, the arteriolar SO(2) and the retinal arterio-venous difference correlated significantly with the rim area. CONCLUSION: Eyes with NTG showed significantly decreased arteriolar SO(2). These changes were not seen in POAG patients.     

Episcleral venous pressure in untreated primary open-angle and normal-tension glaucoma

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate episcleral venous pressure (EVP) in different forms of glaucoma in comparison with age-matched controls. EVP was measured by means of a venomanometer in 32 eyes with untreated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), 36 eyes with untreated normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) as well as 56 control eyes without ophthalmological disease other than cataract. In addition to ophthalmological standard examination, cardiovascular parameters such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. In the POAG group, EVP was 12.1 +/-0.5 mm Hg and in the NTG group 11.6 +/- 0.4 mm Hg. This was significantly different from EVP of the controls (9.5 +/- 0.2 mm Hg). The EVP/intraocular pressure (IOP) ratio was significantly different in NTG patients (80.0% +/- 3.2) in comparison with both POAG patients (67.1% +/- 2.8) and controls (69.2% +/- 2.4). The difference between IOP and EVP (IOP - EVP) was 6.2 +/- 0.6 in the POAG, 3.1 +/- 0.45 in the NTG and 4.5 +/- 0.4 in the control group. All these values were significantly different from each other. Regression analysis revealed a significant linear correlation between EVP and IOP in both the NTG and the POAG group. In the control group, however, the correlation was weak. This study is the first to demonstrate differences in EVP between untreated NTG and POAG and an age-matched healthy control group.     

Fluorescein fundus angiography of optic nerve head in primary open angle glaucoma and low tension glaucoma]

Fluorescein fundus angiography was performed at angle of 20 degrees in the 58 low tension glaucoma (LTG) eyes (30 cases) and 77 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes (41 cases) and the relation of the optic nerve head fluorescein changes to visual field disturbances (stage classification of Kosaki) was compared between POAG and LTG groups. The filling defect of fluorescein in the deep area and the decrease in number of superficial capillaries were observed in the optic nerve head. The filling defect area of fluorescein in the optic nerve head corresponding to Bjerrum scotoma was recognized even in the mild visual field disturbance cases of both LTG and POAG. The following findings were noted in both LTG and POAG cases; expansion of the filling defect area and the decrease in number of superficial capillaries in the same area with progression of visual field disturbances. Filling defect area of fluorescein of the optic nerve head accorded with visual field disturbance area in 19 LTG eyes (32.8%) and 61 POAG eyes (79.2%). On the contrary, the filling defect area of the optic nerve head was wider than the visual disturbance area in 37 LTG eyes (63.8%) and 16 POAG eyes (20.8%). These findings suggest that blood circulatory disorders of the optic nerve head occurred earlier in LTG than in POAG and that the development of LTG might be closely associated with the blood circulatory disorders.     

Parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in normal and glaucoma eyes. I. Morphometric data

Glaucomatous optic nerve damage is associated with alterations of the intra- and parapapillary optic disc area. We measured and compared the parapapillary region in 582 eyes of 321 patients suffering from chronic primary open-angle glaucoma and in 390 eyes of 231 normal subjects. Only one randomly assessed eye per patient and subject was taken for statistical analysis. Highly mopic eyes with a myopic refractive error of more than -8.00 diopters had been excluded. The parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy was divided into a peripheral zone "Alpha" with irregular hyper- and hypopigmentation, and a more central zone "Beta" characterized by whitish colour, visible large choroidal vessels and visible sclera. In the normal eyes both zones were significantly (P less than 0.001) largest and most common in the temporal horizontal sector, followed by the inferior temporal sector, the superior temporal sector and finally the nasal sector. In the glaucoma group both zones were significantly larger (P less than 0.0001; Mann-Whitney test) and more frequent than in the normal eyes (0.40 +/- 0.32 mm2 versus 0.65 +/- 0.49 mm2 for zone Alpha, 0.13 +/- 0.42 mm2 versus 0.79 +/- 1.17 mm2 for zone Beta). The differences were significant also for the earliest glaucoma stage of this study. They were most marked for the nasal parapapillary sector. Significant differences (P less than 0.001) between the normal group and the earliest glaucoma stage were: zone Alpha larger than 0.20 mm2 or broader than 0.20 mm in the temporal horizontal sector, total area of zone Alpha larger than 0.30 mm2, occurrence of zone Alpha in the nasal sector, and occurrence of zone Beta anywhere.     

Optic neuropathies of different etiology and normal tension glaucoma: the point of differential diagnosis

62 patients (109 eyes) with glaucoma-like optic nerve head cupping and normal IOP indices (Po not more than 21 mm Hg) were examined to find the etiology of optic nerve changes. Regarding corneal biomechanics new-onset primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) were diagnosed in 27% and 3% of examined patients respectively. In 59% of patients optic neuropathy (ON) of different etiology was found to be the cause of glaucoma-like optic nerve changes including compression ON due to lesion of intracranial portion of optic nerve and chiasma in 6% of cases. In 11% physiologic large optic nerve head cupping with normal visual functions and absence of nerve fiber structural changes was found.     

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.     

The parapapillary region of normal and glaucoma eyes. I. Planimetric values of 312 glaucoma and 125 normal eyes

Magnification-corrected planimetry of the parapapillary region was performed according to Littmann's method in 312 unselected eyes with chronic primary open-angle glaucoma and in 125 normal eyes of an age- and refraction-matched control group using optic disk photographs. The glaucoma group was divided into five pathomorphologic subgroups. High myopics (less than -8.00 D) and "ocular hypertensives" had been excluded. The coefficient of variation ranged intraindividually from 0.0 to 0.17 and interindividually from 0.0 to 0.16. Two different morphologic variants were defined and examined: 1) Zone "Alpha" with incipient to advanced parapapillary chorio-pigmentepithelio-retinal atrophy - characterized by irregular hypo- and hyperpigmentation - was statistically proven in the control group (0.60 +/- 0.44 mm2; p less than 0.05; Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test) to be smaller than in the glaucoma group (0.81 +/- 0.70 mm2). It increased significantly (p = 0.0000) with advancing glaucoma stage. In the glaucoma and normal group it was broadest in the temporal horizontal sector (p less than 0.001; Wilcoxon test), followed by the temporal lower (p less than 0.001), temporal upper (p less than 0.001) and nasal sectors (p less than 0.001). There was no significant difference in prevalence between the two groups. 2) Zone "Beta" with subtotal to total parapapillary chorio-pigment-epithelio-retinal atrophy was also smaller in the normal eyes (0.18 +/- 0.52 mm2, prevalence: 20.0%; p = 0.0000) than in the glaucomatous ones (0.85 +/- 1.42 mm2, prevalence 66.7%) and was also, in both groups, broadest in the temporal horizontal sector, followed by the temporal lower, temporal upper and nasal sectors. In the control group it was smaller than zone "Alpha" (p less than 0.00001), while in the glaucoma group there was no difference. 3) The difference between normal eyes and earliest glaucoma stage I was for zone "Beta" (p = 0.0000); the difference between the normal eyes and those of glaucoma stage II was significant for both zones (p = 0.0000 and p less than 0.05, respectively). In both groups and in all glaucoma stages both zones were larger in the lower half of the optic disk than in the upper half. 4) "Conus pigmentosus" and the peripapillary scleral rim in normal and glaucomatous eyes showed no significant difference as regards their area and frequency. The parapapillary chorio-pigmentepithelio-retinal alterations are precursors of, or are equivalent to the so-called "halo glaucomatosus".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Study on Stereometric Parameters of Optic Nerve Head of Normal,Big—cup

Purpose: To investigate the difference of stereometric parameters of optic nerve head between the normal subjects and patients with big-cupped disk and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).Methods: Twenty-two cases (44 eyes) of normal subjects, 17 cases (34 eyes) of patients with big-cupped disk and 19 cases (37 eyes) of patients with POAG underwent Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) examination to get topography images and stereometric parameters of optic nerve head.Results: The stereometric parameters of optic nerve head of the normal, patients with big-cupped disk and POAG were 1) disk area (mm2): 1. 995± 0. 501, 2. 407±0. 661 and 2. 248±0.498; 2) cup area (mm2): 0.573±0.264, 1. 095±0. 673 and 1. 340±0. 516; 3) cup/disk ratio: 0. 25±0. 095, 0. 428±0. 176 and 0. 589±0.195; 4) rim area (mm2): 1.461±0.328, 1.312±0.418 and 0. 905± 0.409; 5)cup volume (mm3): 0. 108±0. 073, 0. 347±0. 346 and 0. 550 ±0. 394; 6) rim volume (mm3): 0. 421±0. 111, 0. 378±0. 225 and 0. 224±0. 189; 7) mean cup dept     

Topography and fluorescein angiography of the optic nerve head in primary open-angle and chronic primary angle closure glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to correlate optic nerve head topography with fluorescein angiography of the optic nerve head in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), chronic primary angle closure glaucoma (CPACG), and normal controls. METHODS: This was an institution-based, cross-sectional, case-control study of 30 consecutive patients each with POAG or CPACG, which were compared with 30 age- and sex-matched controls. The fluorescein angiograms undertaken in one eye of each of the 90 subjects were then analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. RESULTS: The mean age of controls (group 1) was 51.73 +/- 9.6 years, patients with CPACG (group II) was 53.26 +/- 9.5 years, and patients with POAG (group III) was 54.5 +/- 10.4 years. The mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation on Humphrey visual field analyzer, respectively, were -1.51 +/- 2.01 dB and 2.09 +/- 1.04 dB the in control group, -9.4 +/- 9.3 dB and 5.32 +/- 4.02 dB in the CPACG group, and -11.27 +/- 7.7 dB and 7.57 +/- 5.34 dB in the POAG group. There was no significant difference in the disc areas between the three groups (analysis of variance [ANOVA], p = 0.157). All circulatory parameters were delayed in both glaucoma groups compared with controls with the disc filling time (ANOVA, p = 0.001) and the choroidal filling time being significantly delayed (ANOVA, p = 0.006). The Moorfield regression analysis showed good correlation with the pattern of disc fluorescence in all quadrants in cases of CPACG and POAG. CONCLUSION: The optic nerve head and choroidal circulation was delayed in both patients with POAG and those with CPACG, which correlates with loss of neuroretinal rim and retinal nerve fiber layer on the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT). Patients with POAG showed diffuse damage with significant rim loss, whereas patients with CPACG showed marked sectorial abnormalities (superotemporal and the inferior-temporal) on fluorescein angiography and HRT. One possible reason for this discrepancy could be sectorial ischemia occurring in cases of CPACG as a result of a sudden rise of intraocular pressure causing disc and visual field damage.     

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）     

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.     

Autonomic system activity and 24-hour blood pressure variations in subjects with normal- and high-tension glaucoma

PURPOSE: As suggested by findings of abnormal responses to posture in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG), cardiovascular autoregulation may also be defective in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Both 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the head-up tilt test were performed in 17 subjects with NTG and in 13 subjects with high-tension POAG (ht-POAG). These groups were compared with 17 age-matched healthy individuals. Subjects undergoing cardiovascular therapy were excluded. RESULTS: No significant differences in diurnal and nocturnal blood pressure and heart rate were found between the groups. A significant reduction in diurnal heart rate variability was found in NTG (12.1 +/- 2.8 bpm) compared with the ht-POAG (15.0 +/- 2.4 bpm, P < 0.01) and control groups (15.8 +/- 3.0 bpm, P = 0.01]). Nocturnal diastolic blood pressure variability was also reduced in NTG (6.9 +/- 2.2 mm Hg) compared with controls (8.6 +/- 2.3 mm Hg, P < 0.05]) as was heart rate variability (6.3 +/- 1.4 vs 8.3 +/- 2.6 in ht-POAG, P < 0.05), suggesting blunted blood pressure and heart rate modulation in NTG subjects. Spectral analysis of short-term heart rate variability showed a significant reduction of total power in the supine position (1064 +/- 600 in NTG vs 1688 +/- 889 ms2 in controls, P < 0.05]). This was not accompanied either by a physiological reduction in total power or in a high-frequency component during the passive orthostatic stimulus. These differences tend to become more prominent in the clinically more severe forms of NTG (as identified by scores based on the extent of optic disk excavation, visual field damage, and progression of disease). This would suggest a correlation between the extent of autonomic disorder and severity of glaucoma. The alpha index (root-square of low-frequency heart rate to low-frequency blood pressure ratio) was lower in the supine position in NTG subjects (8.1 +/- 3.1 vs 10.6 +/- 3.3 ms/mm Hg in controls, P < 0.05), confirming the reduced baroreflex sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the hypothesis that dysfunction of autonomic control of the cardiovascular response may be a contributing pathogenetic factor in NTG, inducing a chronic ischemia of the optic nerve.     

Incidence of disc hemorrhages in open-angle glaucoma before and after trabeculectomy

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) by surgical intervention on the frequency of disc hemorrhages in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: We studied 99 eyes of 99 patients with POAG and 50 eyes of 50 patients with NTG, who underwent trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C (MMC) and were followed regularly at 1 to 3-month intervals at the Glaucoma Service of Gifu University Hospital. We applied Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis for the detection of disc hemorrhages before and after trabeculectomy. RESULTS: Trabeculectomy significantly reduced IOP (in POAG: 19.6 +/- 4.4 down to 11.1 +/- 4.2 mm Hg; in NTG: 15.3 +/- 1.5 down to 11.3 +/- 4.5 mm Hg; mean +/- SD). Life-table analysis revealed that the final cumulative probability of detecting a disc hemorrhage after surgery in POAG was 5.5 +/- 2.2% (calculated probability +/- SE) and was significantly lower than that (33.4 +/- 7.8%) before surgery (P < 0.0001, log-rank test). Likewise, the final probability after surgery in NTG was 23.1 +/- 6.3% and was significantly lower than that (42.1 +/- 8.8%) before surgery (P = 0.0063, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: IOP reduction via surgical intervention significantly decreases the frequency of disc hemorrhages in open-angle glaucoma patients.     

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.     

高眼压性和正常眼压性原发性开角型青光眼视神经损害特征的比较

目的探讨高眼压性原发性开角型青光眼(POAG)和正常眼压性青光眼(NTG)患者视神经损害的不同特点。方法应用德国Heidelberg公司生产的视网膜断层扫描仪对高眼压性POAG39例(47只眼)和NTG32例(38只眼)进行定量视盘参数和神经纤维层检查,并行眼底立体照相观察视网膜神经纤维层(RNFL)缺损类型,检测静态定量视野,并对检查结果进行比较。结果(1)NTG组视盘总体参数和分区(除颞侧外)盘沿面积、沿/盘面积小于高眼压性POAG组,而C/D大于高眼压性POAG组;平均RNFL厚度和RNFL面积在颞下和颞上小于高眼压性POAG组;总体盘沿容积小于高眼压性POAG组,总体平均视杯深度和颞下视杯面积大于高眼压性POAG组,两组差异均有统计学意义(P<005)。两组颞侧视盘各参数比较,差异无统计学意义(P>005)。(2)RNFL缺损类型高眼压性POAG组RNFL弥漫性缺损占5319%,局限性缺损占426%;NTG组弥漫性缺损占2105%,局限性缺损占5526%。两组RNFL缺损类型构成比比较,差异有统计学意义(P<001)。结论NTG较高眼压性POAG具有较大的C/D值、C/D面积比和窄盘沿面积,RNFL丢失严重。高眼压性POAG患者的RNFL以弥漫性缺损为主,NTG患者的RNFL以局限性缺损为主。两者视神经损害具有不同特点,其损害机制可能不同。(中华眼科杂志,2005,41136140)