Correlation between hemifield visual field damage and corresponding parapapillary atrophy in normal-tension glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the correlation between the superior or inferior half area of parapapillary atrophy (PPA) and the corresponding hemifield visual field damage (VFD) in normal-tension glaucoma.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
patients: One hundred nine eyes of 109 consecutive patients with normal-tension glaucoma. observation procedures: Topography parameters of the optic nerve head and PPA (zone beta) area were obtained with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT), and VFD was evaluated with the 30 to 2 program of Humphrey Field Analyzer. The HRT parameters and PPA area were determined separately in superior and inferior half regions. main outcome measures: Partial correlation coefficients of the superior and inferior areas of PPA with refractive error, axial length, HRT parameters, and corresponding hemifield VFD.


RESULTS
In simple correlation analyses, significant correlation was found between the inferior PPA area and the superior hemifield VFD (Spearman rank correlation coefficient; Rs = -0.32; P < .001) but not between the superior PPA area and the inferior hemifield VFD (Rs = 0.05; P = .6). Age, refractive error, axial length, and height variation contour were associated significantly with the total, superior, and inferior areas of PPA, respectively (P < .01). Multiple regression analyses showed that the superior PPA area was associated significantly with only axial length (P < .001), and the inferior PPA area was associated significantly with the axial length and the superior hemifield VFD (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with normal-tension glaucoma, only the inferior half area of PPA correlated significantly with glaucomatous VFD. Axial length and myopia were associated with both the superior and inferior half areas of PPA.
Kawano
Junko
J
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Tomidokoro
Atsuo
A
Mayama
Chihiro
C
Kunimatsu
Shiho
S
Tomita
Goji
G
Araie
Makoto
M
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009896:Optic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis; D014054:Tomography; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields