Optic Nerve Disc Area and Its Impact on Longitudinal Structural Changes in Glaucoma Eyes

Abstract

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between the optic nerve disc area and the rate of progression of OCT structural parameters in eyes with glaucoma.

Methods : Subjects with varying POAG severity with ≥ 3 visits were enrolled in our study. All had comprehensive ocular examination, visual field testing (Humphrey field analyzer; Zeiss, Dublin, CA), and spectral-domain OCT (Cirrus HD-OCT; Zeiss) in each visit. The rate of change of OCT parameters for each eye was estimated using linear regression. The association between baseline disc area and rate of change was calculated by linear mixed-effects models while adjusting for baseline age and baseline measurements, and accounting for inter-eye correlation.

Results : 319 subjects (459 eyes) with average age 62.7±10.1 years and disc area 1.78±0.40 mm2 at baseline were enrolled in the study. 175 subjects (55%) were female. The average number of visits was 5.7±2.7 and the average follow-up duration was 4.0±2.0 years. Statistically significant or marginally significant associations were detected between baseline disc area and the rates of change of average, inferior, and nasal cpRNFL (Table 1, Figure 1). No significant association was detected with any of the optic nerve and macula parameters (Table 1).

Conclusions : Larger discs were associated with faster cpRNFL rate of progression. Disc area was not associated with either Macular GCIPL or ONH parameter progression.

This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Imaging in the Eye Conference, held in Seattle, WA, May 4, 2024.