CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PROGRESSION OF OPTIC DISC AND VISUAL-FIELD CHANGES IN GLAUCOMA

Visual field test and optic disc evaluation are the standard examinati on techniques used to detect the onset and progression of glaucoma. Th is explorative study was performed to assess the temporal correlation between visual field and optic disc changes in eyes with ocular hypert ension and well-established glaucoma. Eighty-six hypertensive and 16 g laucomatous eyes were followed up for a period of up to 9 years (avera ge 4.4 yrs) using kinetic and computerized static perimetry and optic disc manual morphometry. Perimetric changes were based on a series of strict criteria and optic disc changes were based as a reduction in th e baseline rim area/disc area ratio (R/D) measurement exceeding the 99 % confidence interval for intraobserver reproducibility (7.7%). Optic disc changes were found prior to visual field changes in four hyperten sive eyes, whereas visual field changes were found prior to disc chang es in six glaucomatous eyes (p = 0.042). The results of our explorativ e study suggest that quantitative optic disc analysis may be more sens itive than visual field examination in detecting early glaucomatous ch anges, whereas visual field examination may be more sensitive than qua ntitative optic disc analysis in detecting glaucomatous progressions i n eyes with well established glaucoma.