April 2009
Volume 50, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2009
Comparison of Rates of Change in Rim Area and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurements in Glaucoma
L. M. Alencar; R. N. Weinreb; G. Vizzeri; L. M. Zangwill; C. Bowd; P. A. Sample; F. A. Medeiros
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • L. M. Alencar
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
    Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
  • R. N. Weinreb
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • G. Vizzeri
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • L. M. Zangwill
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • C. Bowd
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • P. A. Sample
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • F. A. Medeiros
    Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  L.M. Alencar, None; R.N. Weinreb, Carl-Zeiss Meditec, F; Heidelberg Engineering, F; Paradigm, F; Topcon, F; Carl-Zeiss Meditec, C; G. Vizzeri, None; L.M. Zangwill, Carl-Zeiss Meditec, F; Heidelberg Engineering, F; Nidek, F; Optovue, F; C. Bowd, Lace Elettronica, F; P.A. Sample, Carl-Zeiss Meditec, F; Welch-Allyn, F; Haag-Streit, F; F.A. Medeiros, Pfizer, F; Alcon, F; Carl Zeiss Meditec, F; Pfizer, C; Alcon, C; Allergan, C; Carl Zeiss Meditec, C; Pfizer, R; Alcon, R; Allergan, R; Carl Zeiss Meditec, R; Reichert Inc., R.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NEI EY08208 (PAS), NEI EY11008 (LMZ), and participant retention incentive grants in the form of glaucoma medication at no cost from Alcon Laboratories Inc., Allergan, Pfizer Inc, and Santen Inc.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2009, Vol.50, 2252. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      Comparison of Rates of Change in Rim Area and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurements in Glaucoma
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      L. M. Alencar, R. N. Weinreb, G. Vizzeri, L. M. Zangwill, C. Bowd, P. A. Sample, F. A. Medeiros; Comparison of Rates of Change in Rim Area and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Measurements in Glaucoma. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2009;50(13):2252.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate and compare rates of change in neuroretinal rim area and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements in glaucomatous patients and individuals suspected of having the disease followed over time.

Methods: : This was an observational cohort study that included 199 eyes of 136 patients recruited from the longitudinal Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study - DIGS, which were followed with standard achromatic perimetry (SAP), optic disc stereophotographs, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (HRT 3) and scanning laser polarimetry (GDx VCC) imaging. Progression was determined by the Guided Progression Analysis (GPA) software for visual fields and by masked assessment of optic disc stereophotographs performed by expert graders. Random coefficient models were used to evaluate rates of change in RNFL thickness and rim area measurements and their relationship with progression detected by optic disc stereophotographs and SAP.

Results: : From the 199 eyes, 27 (14%) showed progression by visual fields and/or sterephotographs, during an average (SD) follow-up time of 3.5 (0.6) years. The average rate of decline for RNFL thickness measurements was significantly higher in the progressing group compared to the non-progressing group (-0.53 µm/year vs. -0.21 µm/year, respectively; P = 0.043), whereas the rate of decline for global rim area was not significantly different between these two groups (-0.003 mm2/year vs. -0.002 mm2/year, respectively; P = 0.366). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to discriminate progressors versus non-progressors was 0.690 for the rate of change in average RNFL thickness and 0.414 for the rate of change in global rim area (P = 0.004).

Conclusions: : The ability to discriminate eyes progressing by visual fields and/or stereophotographs from eyes that remained stable by these methods was significantly greater for RNFL thickness measurements compared to rim area.

Keywords: imaging/image analysis: clinical • optic disc 
© 2009, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept