Papillary hemodynamics in patients with normal-pressure glaucoma and opticdisc hemorrhages

Background. Optic disc hemorrhages in patients with normal-pressure glaucom a (NPG) are usually regarded as a sign of Vascular dysfunction and as an in dicator for glaucoma damage progression. Methods. Optic nerve head blood flow was measured in 21 patients suffering from NPG with acute optic disc hemorrhages by scanning laser Doppler flowme try at various locations of the optic disc. Intraocular pressure and mean d eviation of the visual field were also monitored. Two groups served as cent ral: 21 patients with NPG matched for age,sex,and stage of the disease and in addition the contralateral eye without any hemorrhages. Results. Optic nerve head blood flow as a mean of several locations was sig nificantly lower in eyes with optic disc hemorrhages than in controls and d iffered significantly from the contralateral eye. Conclusion. Optic nerve blood flow was lower in NPG eyes with optic disc he morhages than in the contralateral eye and in controls.