title: Comparison of normal- and high-tension glaucoma: nerve fiber layer and optic nerve head damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the nerve fiber layer and glaucoma-induced structural optic nerve head (ONH) damage in patients with normal- (NTG) and high-tension (HTG) glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective pair-matched comparative study, 22 NTG and 22 HTG eyes were matched according to the same glaucomatous damage based on rim volume, rim area and disk size, as measured by Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT III). Visual fields (VF) were assessed by Humphrey perimetry, and nerve fiber layer thickness was determined both by scanning laser polarimetry (GDxVCC) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Comparisons of all measured parameters were made between NTG and HTG groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on HRT results, both NTG and HTG eyes displayed comparable structural damage to the ONH (NTG/HTG, mean: disk area, 2.30/2.31 mm(2), p = 0.942; rim area, 1.02/0.86 mm(2), p = 0.082; rim volume, 0.19/0.17 mm(3), p = 0.398). NTG eyes had significantly less VF damage than HTG eyes (NTG/HTG, mean deviation: -4.23/-12.12 dB, p = 0.002; pattern standard deviation: 5.39/8.23 dB, p = 0.022). The inferior nerve fiber layer of NTG patients was significantly thicker than that of HTG patients (NTG/HTG, mean: GDx inferior: 53.5/46.3 µm, p = 0.046). SD-OCT revealed a significantly thicker nerve fiber in NTG compared with HTG patients in all quadrants (NTG/HTG, total mean: 72.72/58.45 µm, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At comparable glaucomatous stages, nerve fiber loss was more advanced in HTG patients compared with NTG patients.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Janek
authors: J
authors: Häntzschel
authors: Naim
authors: N
authors: Terai
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Furashova
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Pillunat
authors: Lutz E
authors: LE
authors: Pillunat
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057109:Scanning Laser Polarimetry; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields