Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc: time course in primary open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and quantify the time course of fluorescein leakage of the optic nerve head in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and controls.


METHODS
Twenty patients with POAG (aged 58 +/- 10 years) and 14 controls (aged 51 +/- 12 years, p = 0.07) were included in a prospective study. Fluorescein leakage of the optic disc was quantified using digital image analysis. A new leakage ratio (fluorescence of the optic disc divided by fluorescence of the surrounding retina) was defined and fluorescein leakage was quantified at 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 min after injection of 2.5 cc sodium fluorescein (10%).


RESULTS
The fluorescein leakage exhibited a significantly different time course with higher leakage ratio values in POAG compared to controls (7-8 min: 1.24 +/- 0.32 vs 1.16 +/- 0.12; 9-10 min: 1.37 +/- 0.37 vs 1.19 +/- 0.1; 11-12 min: 1.38 +/- 0.36 vs 1.24 +/- 0.13; 13-14 min: 1.44 +/- 0.36 vs 1.27 +/- 0.13; p = 0.004). The change in optic disc fluorescence from 7-8 min to 9-10 min was significantly higher in POAG compared to controls (0.13 +/- 0.09 vs 0.03 +/- 0.07; p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
The time course of fluorescein leakage is significantly different in POAG compared to controls. This might reflect damage of the optic disc vasculature related to increased vascular permeability.
Plange
Niklas
N
Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. nplange@ukaachen.de
Kaup
Marion
M
Doehmen
Benjamin
B
Remky
Andreas
A
Arend
Kay Oliver
KO
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014794:Visual Fields
D019793:Fluorescein