Abstract
Purpose: :
Fluorescein angiographic studies revealed prolonged arteriovenous passage time (AVP) in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to healthy controls. To correlate baseline AVP to visual field progression in patients with NTG.
Methods: :
Fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO, Rodenstock Instr.), and AVP was measured by digital image analysis and dye dilution curves (25 Hz). Visual field progression was evaluated using regression analysis of the MD (Humphrey-Zeiss, ww 24/2 SITA). Twenty-nine patients with NTG (mean age 62 ±11 years, mean defect (MD) -9.2 ±7.5 dB) and a follow-up of at least 3 years and 4 visual field examinations were included in a retrospective study. The MD progression per year was used for analysis.
Results: :
Mean follow up was 6.6 ± 2.2 years. Baseline AVP was 1.70 ±0.49 s. Mean MD progression per year was -0.44 ± 0.5 dB. MD progression was significantly correlated to AVP (r=-0.39, p=0.035), but not to baseline intraocular pressure (r=0.21, p=0.27), baseline MD (r=0.25, p=0.18), or age (r=-0.33, p=0.07).
Conclusions: :
Longer retinal passage times are correlated to the field progression in NTG. A borderline correlation was found for age. Impaired retinal blood flow seems to be an important factor for glaucoma progression.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • ischemia • visual fields