Differences of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness between normal and glaucoma-like optic disks (physiological cups) matched by optic disk area.
We matched by disk area size 23 eyes of patients with glaucoma-like disks (physiological cups) with normal ocular pressures and no visual field loss with 23 eyes of normal subjects. Using stereophotogrammetry we found a significant decrease in retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in the eyes with glaucoma-like disks compared to the normal eyes (P = 0.0081), especially in the nasal quadrant (18.1%). A similar significant decrease was noted in the neuroretinal rim area and a significant increase in cup volume, area, depth and slope for the total disk and its quadrants. The use of computerized image analysis also showed a significant increase in pallor area for glaucoma-like disks compared to normal disks. Eyes with glaucoma-like disks or physiological cups showed evidence of an optic neuropathy and may be manifesting the same damage to the optic nerve occurring in high pressure open angle glaucoma.
Peigne
G
G
Department of Ophthalmology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston.
Schwartz
B
B
Takamoto
T
T
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D010781:Photography; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*