Early diagnosis of glaucoma. The value of successive stereophotography of the optic disc.
A group of 46 patients with ocular hypertension (initial pressure 22-30 mmHg) have been followed prospectively for 5-7.5 years, with special emphasis on optic disc changes. A stereophoto of the disc was taken at each consultation. So far, 24 patients have been put on anti-glaucoma therapy. A slight increase in disc cupping revealed by stereophoto was the first pathological finding in 19 patients. Only one patient developed a field defect without visible disc changes. Neither disc description, cup/disc ratio measurement nor disc drawing were accurate enough to disclose small changes in the cup size. Considerably more patients in the treatment group had a pressure rise of 5 mm or more and repeated intraocular pressures of 30 mm or more during the observation. Stereophotography of the optic disc was found to be a valuable method in the diagnosis of early glaucoma.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014794:Visual Fields