P 360
Risk factors for progression in normal-pressure glaucoma
J. K. Hayler, I. M. Velten
Purpose: To determine risk factors for morphologically assessed progression of normal-pressure glaucoma (NPG).
Methods: The study included 62 eyes of 62 NPG patients with a mean follow-up of 2.2 years (0.5 - 8 years). Criteria for NPG were glaucomatous optic disc abnormalities, glaucomatous visual field defects, and intraocular pressure (IOP) £ 21 mm Hg in a 24h pressure profile. Stereo optic disc photographs were taken annually. Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve damage was morphologically defined by the occurrence of optic disc hemorrhages on any photograph and/or by diminution of neuroretinal rim in the follow-up period in comparison to the photograph taken at start of the study.
Results: Thirty of the 62 (30/62=48.4%) eyes showed signs of morphological deterioration. In eyes with deterioration, IOP at baseline was significantly higher than in the group with morphologically stable eyes (16.8 ± 2.1 mm Hg versus 14.0 ± 2.4; p<0.0001). The two groups did not vary significantly in age, gender, mean defect or corrected loss variance of visual field, area of optic disc, and area of neuroretinal rim.
Discussion: In normal-pressure glaucoma, the risk of deterioration may be independent of optic disc size, age, gender, and existing loss of neuroretinal rim and visual field. It may depend on the level of intraocular pressure.
Dept. Ophthalmology Univ. Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, D-91054 Erlangen