O Arend1, A Remky, L B Cantor, A Harris. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of the Technical University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. oliver.arend@post.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract
AIM: To compare the effect of altitudinal asymmetric glaucomatous damage on retinal microcirculation in patients with normal pressure glaucoma (NPG). METHODS: In a prospective cross sectional study patients with NPG (washed out for antiglaucomatous therapy) and altitudinal asymmetric perimetric findings between the superior and inferior hemisphere (Humphrey 24-2) (n=18) were included and compared with 20 NPG patients with symmetrical field defects and 18 healthy subjects. Fluorescein angiograms were performed using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Using digital image analysis, arteriovenous passage time (AVP) and vessel diameters were assessed for comparison of corresponding affected and less affected temporal arcades. RESULTS: Both affected and less affected hemispheres showed significantly prolonged AVP times (p<0.001) when compared with healthy subject data. In hemispheres with more severe glaucomatous field loss the AVP times were significantly (p=0.04) prolonged compared with the less affected hemisphere (AVP affected 3.1 (SD 7) seconds v AVP less affected 2.61 (1.4) seconds). There was no asymmetry effect on arterial and venous diameter measurements. CONCLUSION: Altitudinal visual field defects are linked together with circulatory deficits of the retinal tissue. The attenuated circulation seems to be a considerable factor in the natural course of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
AIM: To compare the effect of altitudinal asymmetric glaucomatous damage on retinal microcirculation in patients with normal pressure glaucoma (NPG). METHODS: In a prospective cross sectional study patients with NPG (washed out for antiglaucomatous therapy) and altitudinal asymmetric perimetric findings between the superior and inferior hemisphere (Humphrey 24-2) (n=18) were included and compared with 20 NPG patients with symmetrical field defects and 18 healthy subjects. Fluorescein angiograms were performed using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope. Using digital image analysis, arteriovenous passage time (AVP) and vessel diameters were assessed for comparison of corresponding affected and less affected temporal arcades. RESULTS: Both affected and less affected hemispheres showed significantly prolonged AVP times (p<0.001) when compared with healthy subject data. In hemispheres with more severe glaucomatous field loss the AVP times were significantly (p=0.04) prolonged compared with the less affected hemisphere (AVP affected 3.1 (SD 7) seconds v AVP less affected 2.61 (1.4) seconds). There was no asymmetry effect on arterial and venous diameter measurements. CONCLUSION: Altitudinal visual field defects are linked together with circulatory deficits of the retinal tissue. The attenuated circulation seems to be a considerable factor in the natural course of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Authors: Adeleh Yarmohammadi; Linda M Zangwill; Alberto Diniz-Filho; Luke J Saunders; Min Hee Suh; Zhichao Wu; Patricia Isabel C Manalastas; Tadamichi Akagi; Felipe A Medeiros; Robert N Weinreb Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2017-02-10 Impact factor: 12.079