Abstract
Purpose: :
The purpose of this study was to investigate morphologic predictive factors for the development of glaucoma in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT).
Patients and Methods: :
Fifty nine patients with OHT without visible optic disc change as well as regular visual field during follow up and 13 patients with hypertension and conversion to early glaucoma defined by marked neuroretinal rim loss and development of glaucomatous optic disc atrophy were included in the study. All patients received anually standardized ophthalmologic examination including detailed diagnostic concerning glaucoma. Only patients with an observation period of more than 5 years were included in the study. Optic disc images from baseline were used for digital planimetry and optic disc and cup area were measured using commercial Software: Soft Imaging System analysisTM. The investigator was masked for previous morphologic evaluation of the optic disc.
Results: :
Cup area, rim area and cup disc area ratio were 0.98±0.36 mm², 2.10±0.45 mm² and 0.32±0.09 in patients with OHT without visible optic disc change during follow up, and 1.35±0.58 mm², 1.80±0.49 mm² and 0.42±0.09 in patients with OHT and development of optic disc atrophy during follow up. Differences of cup area, rim area and cup disc ratio were significant (p<0.01) whereas optic disc area showed no significant differences between both groups.
Conclusions: :
Patients with OHT and conversion to early glaucoma during follow up had already at baseline a lower neuroretinal rim area and larger cup disc area ratio if compared with the non–progresive group. Quantification of neuroretinal rim area might be useful as predictive factor for the development of glaucomatous disc changes in patients with OHT.