Interocular difference in progression of glaucoma correlates with interocular differences in retrobulbar circulation

PURPOSE: TO evaluate the correlation between inter ocular difference in pro gression of glaucomatous damage and interocular differences in retrobulbar blood flow, METHODS: On the basis of a retrospective analysis of visual fields, progres sive damage was identified in 20 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. As a parameter of interocular difference in progression of visual field da mage, the angle (gamma) between the regression lines of the visual field in dex mean defect over time per eye was calculated for each subject, The rela tionship between the angle gamma and interocular differences in intraocular pressure and retrobulbar color Doppler imaging parameters was analyzed by a multiple linear regression analysis in a stepwise for ward approach. RESULTS: With larger interocular differences in progression of glaucomatous damage, lower mean blood flow velocities in the ophthalmic artery (partial r = -.69; P < .0016), higher resistivity indices in the central retinal ar tery (partial r = .48; P < .0456), and higher peak systolic velocities in t he ophthalmic artery (partial r = .52; P < .0285) were noted in the eyes wi th more marked progression of damage (multiple r = .71; P < .0099), Interoc ular differences in progression of visual field damage were not related to intraocular pressure or extent of visual field damage. CONCLUSION: Independent of the extent of the inter ocular difference in gla ucomatous damage and intraocular pressure, interocular difference in progre ssion of glaucomatous visual field damage correlates with interocular diffe rence in retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science I nc. All rights reserved.