Foveal dysfunction and central visual field loss in glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether foveal function distal to the ganglion cell layer is an independent predictor of central visual field function in glaucoma.


METHODS
University affiliated hospital and private practice.


METHODS
Twenty-seven eyes (27 patients) with normal-pressure glaucoma, 10 eyes (10 patients) with primary open-angle glaucoma, and 47 eyes of 47 matched normal volunteers.


METHODS
Foveal cone electroretinogram (ERG) amplitude, relative optic cup to disc area and their relations to Humphrey full-threshold 30-2 visual field central 4-point mean total deviation (C4MTD) and pattern deviation (C4MPD).


RESULTS
Foveal cone ERG amplitude was subnormal in 14 (37.8%) of the 37 glaucomatous eyes and lower in the glaucoma group compared with normal eyes (P<.01). The C4MTD and C4MPD were lower in glaucomatous eyes with subnormal amplitudes compared with those with normal amplitudes (P<.01 and P<.05, respectively). Amplitude was directly correlated with C4MTD (P<.01) and C4MPD (P<.01). Relative optic cup to disc area was inversely correlated with C4MTD (P<.001) and C4MPD (P<.001). Partial correlation analysis revealed that amplitude and relative optic cup to disc area were independent predictors of C4MTD and C4MPD.


CONCLUSIONS
Foveal function distal to the ganglion cell layer and optic disc cupping independently predict central visual field function in glaucoma.
Weiner
A
A
Division of Ophthalmology, St Luke's Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44104, USA. aweinerbo@aol.com
Ripkin
D J
DJ
Patel
S
S
Kaufman
S R
SR
Kohn
H D
HD
Weidenthal
D T
DT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004596:Electroretinography; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008875:Middle Aged; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014794:Visual Fields