title: [Optic disc measurements with computerized image analysis in experimental chronic glaucoma].
abstract: We quantitatively analyzed morphological changes of the optic disc of ten Japanese monkey eyes exposed to sustained intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation by repeated argon laser application to the trabecular meshwork. Using a computerized image analyzer (Topcon IMAGEnet), we measure the cup-disc ratio (CDR), disc area (DA), cup volume/disc area (CV/DA), and rim area/disc area (RA/DA). The duration of IOP elevation was 48.4 +/- 0.8 (mean +/- SD) weeks, and the mean IOP during the experiment was 26.3 +/- 2.6 mmHg [the mean IOP during the experiment/pre-treatment IOP was 2.05 +/- 0.55 (IOP ratio)]. In advanced glaucomatous eyes (the duration of IOP elevation of approximately one year), comparing pretreatment, the CV/DA increased 4.96 times, the vertical CDR increased 1.78 times, the horizontal CDR increased 1.69 times, the DA increased 1.42 times, and the RA/DA decreased 0.54 times. A significant positive correlation was found between the IOP ratio and, both the vertical CDR (gamma = 0.65) and the CV/DA (gamma = 0.68). These results suggested that the development of glaucomatous optic disc cupping correlated with the degree of IOP elevation in monkey eyes. Using this computer image analyser, the longitudinal quantitative follow-up of disc changes of experimental glaucoma may be useful for understanding the mode of human glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirakashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nanba
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008251:Macaca; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*