Comparative study of retinal nerve fiber layer damage in Japanese patients with normal- and high-tension glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To look for possible differences in the pattern of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) damage induced by normal- and high-tension glaucoma.


METHODS
The study included randomly selected eyes from 27 patients with open-angle, high-tension glaucoma (mean age, 54.7 +/- 15.0 years; range 21-74 years) and from 19 age-matched patients with normal-tension glaucoma (mean age, 55.7 +/- 11.9 years; range 35-83 years). Eyes were examined using scanning laser polarimetry.


RESULTS
The ratio between the superior and inferior quadrant thickness, or symmetry, was significantly lower in patients with high-tension glaucoma (1.00 +/- 0.22) than in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (1.18 +/- 0.32). Similarly, the ratio of the superior to the nasal quadrant thickness was significantly lower in patients with high-tension glaucoma (1.56 +/- 0.38) than in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (1.80 +/- 0.29). No statistically significant differences in the other parameters were detected between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the pattern of RNFL change is different in patients with high- and low-tension glaucoma. The thickness of the RNFL is reduced symmetrically in the superior and inferior quadrants in high-tension glaucoma, whereas a more localized defect on the inferior RNFL occurs in normal-tension glaucoma.
Kubota
T
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Khalil
A K
AK
Honda
M
M
Ito
S
S
Nishioka
Y
Y
Inomata
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D014794:Visual Fields