Optic disk topography after medical treatment to reduce intraocular pressure.
OBJECTIVE
We examined changes in optic disk topography using confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy after reducing intraocular pressure with administration of latanoprost.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension were imaged using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph before and after the administration of latanoprost to decrease intraocular pressure. Average time between pretreatment and posttreatment imaging was 2.7 +/- 1.8 weeks. Heidelberg Retina Tomograph software-measured parameters were mean height of contour, cup area, cup volume, mean cup depth, maximum cup depth, cup shape, rim area, rim volume, cup-to-disk ratio, and retinal nerve fiber thickness.


RESULTS
Average intraocular pressure decreased significantly (mean +/- SD) by 7.2 +/- 5.4 mm Hg (25 +/- 16% decrease). No statistically significant changes in measured topographic parameters were found. When data from patients with decreases in intraocular pressure of 7 mm Hg or greater were analyzed separately (mean intraocular pressure decrease = 10.79 +/- 4.32 mm Hg, 36 +/- 8% decrease), cup area (P =.005), cup volume (P =. 002), and cup-to-disk ratio (P =.005) decreased significantly, and rim area (P =.005) increased significantly. Linear regression analysis of the data from all subjects showed that a change in intraocular pressure after latanoprost administration accounted for 12% or more of the variance in two measured topographic parameters (mean cup depth and cup shape).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that, in some patients, moderate decreases in intraocular pressure may affect disk topography, as measured by Heidelberg Retina Tomograph. Intraocular pressure should be considered when analyzing consecutive confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy images for glaucomatous progression.
Bowd
C
C
Glaucoma Center and Diagnostic Imaging Laboratory, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0946, USA.
Weinreb
R N
RN
Lee
B
B
Emdadi
A
A
Zangwill
L M
LM
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D007834:Lasers; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost