AGING CHANGES OF THE OPTIC-NERVE HEAD IN RELATION TO OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Aims-To determine the age related changes in optic nerve head structur e in a group of normal subjects and assess the significance of any cha nges in relation to those found in open angle glaucoma. Methods-A grou p of 88 white volunteers and friends and spouses of patients with a no rmal visual field and normal intraocular pressure was studied. Two dif ferent imaging and measurement devices were used (computer assisted pl animetry and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy), and the results from each were compared. Measurements were made of the optic disc, optic cup, a nd neuroretinal rim areas, and the vertical optic disc diameter and cu p/disc diameter ratio. Results-Neuroretinal rim area declined at the r ate of between 0.28% and 0.39% per year. Vertical optic cup diameter a nd optic cup area increased with age. The mean cup/disc diameter ratio increased by about 0.1 between the ages of 30 and 70 years. Conclusio ns-Age related changes are significant and measurable, and should be t aken into account when assessing the glaucoma suspect, and when estima ting the rate of progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy in patie nts with established disease.