Morpho-functional follow-up of the optic nerve in treated ocular hypertension: disc morphometry and steady-state pattern electroretinogram.
OBJECTIVE
To examine longitudinally optic disc structure and inner retinal function in treated ocular hypertension (OHT).


METHODS
A morphometric (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, HRT) and functional (steady-state pattern electroretinogram, PERG) evaluation of 27 OHT patients treated with topical beta-blockers and/or prostaglandin analogues and prospectively followed over a 24 +/- 6 month period.


RESULTS
Compared with baseline, mean final PERG amplitude tended to increase (p < 0.01), while HRT was stable. Individual PERG amplitude increase was large (>or= 100%) in some patients (5/27), and unexplained by clinical parameters at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
In treated OHT, functional responses may improve while disc structure remains stable. The findings suggest that OHT-associated inner retinal dysfunction is at least in part reversible with therapeutic intraocular pressure control.
Salgarello
Tommaso
T
Institute of Ophthalmology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. tommaso.salgarello@rm.unicatt.it
Falsini
Benedetto
B
Stifano
Giovanna
G
Montrone
Lucrezia
L
Iarossi
Giancarlo
G
Balestrazzi
Emilio
E
Colotto
Alberto
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D007834:Lasers; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000502:physiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost